Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Dublin on Wednesday 1 July that every day counted with regard to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, while also calling for continued European support.
“Every day counts. Without exaggeration, Russia strikes Ukraine every day”, the Ukrainian President reminded people, standing alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Mr Zelensky also explained that he had received very worrying information indicating preparations for a new large-scale Russian strike.
Together with Mr Martin – just as in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU a few minutes earlier – Mr Zelensky called for additional sanctions against Russia.
“[These] European sanctions are needed against Russia’s shadow fleet and against many of the tools Russian President Vladimir Putin can still rely on to keep this war going. This also includes companies in European countries whose only purpose is to work for Russia. (…) They keep supplying the aggressor with essential materials, even now”, he specified.
A few weeks ago, Ireland opened an investigation into an alumina refinery owned in the country by a Russian company; alumina that is said to have been used to produce weapons in Russia (see EUROPE 13883/17). Speaking to the media, Mr Martin said that the investigation was nearing completion.
“We will step up pressure on Russia in order to deprive it of resources needed to continue this illegal war and to bring it to negotiating table. This means reaching an agreement quickly on the 21st package of sanctions and anticipating a possible 22nd package of sanctions”, promised the Irish Prime Minister.
Volodymyr Zelensky also called for defence cooperation to continue, particularly with regard to drones and anti-drone systems. “Today, every country needs modern means to at least monitor and protect its own airspace and sea borders. Without Ukraine, without Ukraine’s experience and security expertise tested in modern war, it is simply impossible to guarantee security today, especially when it comes to air defence and maritime security”, he said.
The Ukrainian President also argued for the opening of the five remaining clusters of accession negotiation chapters, after the very first was opened on 15 June. “We can open five new clusters very soon and continue negotiations in a concrete manner”, he stressed, noting that it was “essential to keep promises”.
Mr Martin promised that his country would work to open all the chapters by the end of the Irish Presidency.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Helen McEntee had explained to a group of European journalists, including Agence Europe, that Ireland’s objective was to open all the clusters, while acknowledging that this would not be simple, because the 27 Member States had to be consulted. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)