Tight security measures in place for Zelenskiy visit

James Cox

Strict security protocols are in place ahead of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s first official visit to Ireland.

Mr Zelensky is due to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly, and address a sitting of the joint Houses of the Oireachtas.

Preparations are underway at Government Buildings and Leinster House for the visit tomorrow. An Garda Síochána has cancelled all leave and rest days for Mr Zelenkiy's two-day visit.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said tight security measures are in place.

"The President of Ireland will be meeting the president of Ukraine, the Taoiseach and myself, members of the Cabinet, and we're very much looking forward to having an opportunity to engage with president Zelenskiy.

"Of course all of the various measures that you'd expect when there is any high profile visitor are in place in terms of security and safety... and that's right and proper."

Mr Zelenskiy has said there are "tough issues" to work out, as negotiators continue to work through a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

He is meeting French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday before making a quick trip to Ireland.

Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro.

Mr Zelenskiy was last in Ireland in February, when his plane stopped off to refuel ahead of a visit to Washington DC.

Mr Martin met the Ukrainian leader at Shannon Airport in Ireland’s south-west, where he emphasised the Irish people’s support for the Ukrainian people.

The following day, a televised exchange in the Oval Office between Mr Zelenskiy, US president Donald Trump and US vice president JD Vance made international headlines.

In April 2022, Mr Zelenskiy made a historic address to the Dáil in which he said Ireland had not been neutral to the “disaster” Russia had brought to Ukraine.