The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, dismissed a recent verbal blunder by US President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Ireland’s Shannon Airport on Saturday. Zelenskiy is visiting Ireland for a one-on-one discussion with Taoiseach Simon Harris while en route back to Ukraine after earlier engagements with Nato heads of state in America. Biden inadvertently referred to Zelenskiy as “President Putin”, confusing him with Russia’s leader, during a Nato meeting’s final media briefing, which grabbed global attention. On touching Irish soil, Zelenskiy was quick to downplay the incident, seeing it as an unintended slip, and acknowledged the significant role the US has played in backing Ukraine.
During Zelenskiy’s stopover at Shannon, he was scheduled to attend a meeting with Mr Harris. Amidst the brief exchange with the press, when quizzed on his response to Biden’s error, Zelenskiy underscored the historical support from the US to Ukraine and suggested that such missteps could be overlooked.
The high-ranking Ukrainian leader made sure to leave his mark in the visitor’s book at Shannon Airport and indulged in a photo session with Harris. Present at the event was also Larysa Gerasko, the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland.
In expressing gratitude to Ireland, Zelenskiy praised the country for the significant aid given to Ukrainian refugees on account of the ongoing Russian invasion. The Taoiseach, during the bilateral talks, communicated his sorrow over the casualties Ukraine suffered in the conflict, including the recent devastation of the nation’s biggest pediatric hospital.
Simon Harris, who assumed office as Taoiseach last April, reaffirmed Ireland’s backing for Ukraine’s aspirations to be a part of the European Union. He pledged additional Irish support to help repatriate an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children who had been forcibly moved to Russia and Belarus and put through Russian acculturation programmes since the conflict’s initiation. Harris also confirmed Ireland’s commitment as a member of the international coalition advocating for these children’s return.
In a brief encounter at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland last month, Mr Harris and Mr Zelenskiy consorted. From the year 2020, Ireland has extended a non-lethal military aid totalling €250 million to Ukraine, funded by the European Peace Facility. Additionally, the country has become the new home for over 108,000 Ukrainian refugees following the war’s commencement. This info was confirmed by PA along with their extra coverage.