Russia must be held accountable for its aggression, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told the Dáil and Seanad as he appealed for Ireland to play an active role in “making the tribunal for this aggression a reality”.
In his second address to the joint Houses of the Oireachtas, his first in person since the war began in February 2022, the Ukrainian leader also said it was time for frozen Russian assets to be used to help defend and rebuild Ukraine.
He told the Oireachtas “today Ukraine is closer to peace than ever before, and there is a real, real chance. But we must seize this chance fully, the whole world, not just one powerful country.”
And he expressed hope for his country to become a member of the EU. “We want to stand alongside Ireland in the European Union as equals.”
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In a speech of just under 15 minutes Mr Zelenskiy thanked Ireland for its solidarity and providing a “home and protection to our people when they needed it most”.
“Thank you for your steadfast support, for these years of standing with us and thank you for not losing faith in us.”
Expressing his hope for peace, he said he and his government were “stepping up our efforts” and were “fully engaged in negotiations” following the US meetings.
But, stressing the need for global involvement, he said “one strong country can start a war, another strong country can help to stop the war. But to restore justice and defend what’s right, we need a community, a world made up of many different nations.”
Describing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “a criminal and unprovoked act of aggression”, he said it happened “because Russia wants to treat Ukraine as its property and Ukrainians as if they belong in its backyard like livestock”.
“As long as war and occupation and the propaganda of hatred continue, all the pressure on Russia must remain in place so that Russia does not believe it will be rewarded for this war with stolen Ukrainian land or thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children.”
Mr Zelenskiy said: “Please continue supporting all efforts to make the tribunal for Russia’s aggression a reality so that one day it truly begins its work, so that Russian killers cannot freely travel the world as if they have done nothing wrong.”
He said it cannot be “business as usual, not appeasement of killers, not the turning of a blind eye to what has happened”, adding, “the aggressor must be held accountable for what was done”.
It was a great honour to stand in a country that understands the price of freedom, he said, appealing to Ireland to continue to advocate for every form of sanction against Russia.
He said it was time for Russian assets to be used to “help defend and rebuild Ukraine”.
As European nations hesitate to use those assets because of potential future litigation, Mr Zelenskiy insisted “this long-overdue decision” to use those assets “must be implemented”.
[ The Irish Times view on EU support for Ukraine: struggling to agree a dealOpens in new window ]
He also called on “everyone in the world to help return all the children abducted by Russia and all the prisoners still held in Russian jails”, many of them held since 2014 “when Russia launched its hybrid war against us and occupied our country”. He said “this has gone on far too long to simply close our eyes”.
Expressing confidence in EU membership, the Ukrainian president said, “Europe cannot run away from its own values. It must stand up for them, and Ukraine is doing exactly that today on Europe’s behalf.”
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy opened the joint session, welcoming Mr Zelenskiy and first lady Olena Zelenska, who she described as “a woman who has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience and dignity – an inspiration to all women worldwide”.
Ms Murphy told the Ukrainian president: “As a militarily neutral country, Ireland is not – and will never be – morally neutral in the face of atrocity. Our neutrality is a commitment to peace, not indifference. Together with our EU partners, Ireland will stand firm behind Ukraine to ensure Russia ends its aggression.”
She said Irish people, who have “lived the trauma of emigration and war”, opened their hearts and homes to thousands of Ukrainians who now live and work in Ireland. “Your people enrich our communities and share their culture, even though their hearts remain with Ukraine.”
