Yesterday we were honored to represent the Ukrainian community of Galway at a meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelensky in Dublin.
This was a truly historic moment: the first official visit of the Head of State of Ukraine to Ireland since the proclamation of our independence in 1991.
After meetings at the highest level—including with the Prime Minister, President, and Parliament of Ireland—the President met Ukrainian activists, volunteers, and representatives of public organizations in Ireland.
Main topics that President Zelensky discussed were
– the importance of the unity of Ukrainians in Ukraine and beyond;
– joint steps with partners to bring about a just and lasting peace;
– Ukraine’s European integration course.
Since Ireland will chair the Council of the EU next year, the president shared plans to open negotiation clusters on the path to Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
He also talked about the role that Ukrainians abroad can play in supporting Ukraine. He emphasized that the task of each Ukrainian is to tell the Irish about Ukraine, to form a positive image of Ukrainians by their own example, and to invite Irish people to visit Ukraine after the war ends.
Also, people asked about support for Ukrainian athletes abroad and the implementation of educational programs for Ukrainian Saturday and Sunday schools.
The most important message of this meeting was that Ukrainian strength lies in unity and mutual support. Ukrainians are living in difficult times for their country, but the desire to see Ukraine free, strong, and prosperous unites them and gives them the strength to move forward.