**Ukrainian President Meets with Irish Prime Minister**
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on February 27 at Shannon International Airport in Ireland. This meeting comes ahead of Zelensky’s planned talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Zelensky thanked Ireland for its support of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion. Over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees have been taken in by Ireland since 2022. The president said that the discussions covered security guarantees and cooperation on Ukraine’s path to joining the European Union.
**Support from Ireland**
Martin said that Zelensky was “very thankful” for Ireland’s support of the people of Ukraine. He added that they discussed how to advance a just, sustainable, and durable peace in Ukraine with the EU’s help.
Ireland has provided over €380 million ($420 million) in humanitarian, economic, and non-lethal defense support to Ukraine. While Ireland maintains a policy of military neutrality, it is not a NATO member.
**Russian-Ukraine Conflict**
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s forces said that Russian troops are showing physical, moral, and material exhaustion. However, Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that its troops continue to advance and push Ukrainian forces out of the salient.
Ukraine’s military intelligence head said that if Russia doesn’t get out of this war by 2026, they will lose their chance for world leadership.
**US-Ukrainian Relations**
The US is expected to continue playing a role in ensuring Ukraine’s security amid Russian aggression. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is heading to Washington to meet with Trump and convince him to continue supporting Ukraine.
The EU faces major challenges in this effort, including an undersized defense industry and empty stocks after delivering billions in arms and ammunition to Ukraine.
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