Summary

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska are in the Republic of Ireland on their first official visit

  • Zelensky held a joint news conference with his Irish counterpart Micheál Martin, who pledged to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes"

  • The Ukrainian president addressed the Irish Parliament, calling for a peace without humiliation

  • The Irish government announced €100m in non-lethal aid for Ukraine to coincide with the visit

  • Ukrainian and US negotiators held meetings in Florida in recent days in an effort to revise a peace deal viewed as favouring Russia

  • US President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has landed in Moscow ahead of talks with President Vladimir Putin

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 17:00 GMT 2 December 2025

    Thanks for staying with our live updates of President Zelensky's first state visit to Ireland.

    You can follow this live page for all the latest developments in the peace negotiations which are taking place in Russia.

    The writers were: Chloe Gibson, Jamie McColgan, Patrick Magee and Ross McKee

  2. Zelensky's remaining time in Irelandpublished at 16:54 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky shakes hands with Taoiseach Micheal MartinImage source, PA Media

    President Zelensky is now set to attend the inauguration of the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum.

    He will attend alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee.

    Irish ministers signed off on an extra €100m (£88m) in funding for non-lethal military support for Ukraine and a further €25m (£22m) for the country's urgent energy needs.

    Read more here.

  3. US-Russia meeting under way - reportspublished at 16:50 GMT 2 December 2025

    We're hearing reports that the meeting is under way between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law and adviser.

  4. Standing ovation in the Oireachtaspublished at 16:40 GMT 2 December 2025

    For the closing remarks of his speech, Zelensky was met with a standing ovation.

    "Never lose faith in Ukraine, thank you, thank you Ireland, glory to Ukraine," he says.

  5. Appeal for continued sanctionspublished at 16:38 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky also calls for continued advocacy in relation to sanctions on Russia.

    He appeals for everyone to help with the return "all the prisoners still held in Russian jails and camps" since Russia "occupied our Crimea".

    He says it has gone on "far too long" to "close the page on Russia without a just peace".

  6. 'Peace without humiliation'published at 16:32 GMT 2 December 2025

    He urged Ireland to call for the children who have been abducted by Russia to be returned.

    "When the most powerful apply pressure the global community helps apply that pressure in the right direction," he says.

    He says Ukraine wants to stand together with those whose history and struggle "reflect our own" and wants to stand alongside Ireland in the EU "as equals".

    "Just as there is no capital in the world that is not aware what St Patrick's day is... There should be no capital that does not know that the Irish, together with the Ukrainians and many other nations, are united for a real peace.

    "A peace without humiliation and based on something truly real."

  7. 'Russian killers cannot freely travel'published at 16:29 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky says all the pressure on Russia must remain in place so that Russia does not believe it will be rewarded with "stolen land".

    "Please continue to support 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."

  8. 'We will continue to co-ordinate with you'published at 16:26 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky says "it is a great honour" to address a country that "understands the price of freedom".

    "Ireland is doing so much to help others understand how important it is.

    "We will continue to co-ordinate with you."

    Zelensky aims not just for "silence instead of bombs," or "clear skies instead of Russia's missiles".

    He instead advocates for "lasting peace, guaranteed security and true justice."

  9. Ukraine 'fighting for every voice'published at 16:21 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky says Ukraine is fighting for every voice in the world and for every community in every region.

    "We are trying to reach every part, to answer every doubt," he adds.

    "To counter every accusation with facts."

    Zelensky addressing the parliamentImage source, Irish Parliament
  10. 'Community of nations needed to make lasting peace'published at 16:20 GMT 2 December 2025

    "One strong country can start a war. Another strong country can help stop the war," Zelensky tells the Irish Parliament.

    But in this restoration of justice to "defend what's right", he urges the need for a community of different nations with shared sentiments, aspirations, and desire for justice.

    "A community of nations that makes peace truly lasting," he added.

  11. World must 'seize this chance' for peacepublished at 16:16 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky said his team delivered a briefing this morning on the peace negotiations.

    He says the team is looking ahead to important meetings.

    He says the "whole world must seize this chance" and Ukraine "wants peace".

  12. 'Ireland stands firmly and clearly for our independence'published at 16:15 GMT 2 December 2025

    Zelensky continued: "Ukrainian and Irish people are among the few in Europe who spent centuries fighting for the right to remain themselves.

    "Ireland has stood firmly and clearly for our independence and for a just end to this war so thank you for your steadfast support for these years of standing with us, and thank you for not losing faith in us."

  13. 'We do not feel the voice of Ireland is turning quieter'published at 16:10 GMT 2 December 2025

    President Zelensky is now speaking and he begins by thanking Ireland for providing his people with a home "when they needed it most once the war broke out back home."

    He also addresses the feeling of growing fatigue about news of the war in Ukraine, and how Ireland remains vocal in their support.

  14. 'Global community must stand united in condemning this war'published at 16:05 GMT 2 December 2025

    The speaker went on to say the international community must "demand accountability for war crimes".

    She says that despite Ireland's status as a military neutral country, "Ireland is not, and will never be, morally neutral in the face of atrocity".

    Murphy reassures Zelensky that Ireland is commitment to peace, "not indifference".

    The speaker and ZelenskyImage source, Irish Parliament
  15. 'Our own history teaches peace can be achieved' - speakerpublished at 16:02 GMT 2 December 2025

    Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Verona Murphy TD gives the opening address.

    She says the Ukrainian president can find "hope" that peace may be achieved, by drawing comparison between the conflict in Ireland, which ended almost 30 years ago, and what Ukraine is currently experiencing.

    She refers to The Good Friday Agreement and says it "was born from decades of pain and division, yet it proved that even the deepest wounds can heal when people choose negotiation over violence".

    That lesson she says "gives us hope for Ukraine".

    Verona Murphy is sitting in a leather chair in the Irish Parliament. She has blond hair and is wearing a black robe with a green sashImage source, PA Media
  16. Welcome back and applause for Zelenskypublished at 15:57 GMT 2 December 2025

    Welcome back to our live coverage of the Ukrainian president's visit to Ireland.

    Volodymyr Zelensky has been meeting politicians at the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) in Dublin, where he is getting ready to make an address. He has just entered the chamber to a round of applause and a standing ovation.

    We will have live updates of his speech here.

  17. Join us again shortlypublished at 15:15 GMT 2 December 2025

    Our live coverage will now pause for a short break.

    We will be back soon to bring you live updates as President Zelensky addresses the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).

  18. What we just heard from Zelensky and Martinpublished at 15:10 GMT 2 December 2025

    Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have wrapped up their press conference.

    Here's a quick round up of what we heard:

    • Martin condemned Putin's "complete indifference" to international law, and said the Russian president must "never be allowed to succeed"
    • He will sign a partnership agreement with Ukraine today, increasing financial support for the country by€125m (£110m)
    • Zelensky said he sees a "chance to end this war" but there are some things that "still need to be worked out"
    • The Ukrainian president also said he had discussed the use of frozen Russian assets with Martin, and that "it is high time" to use them to support the Ukrainian war and rebuilding effort - Martin echoed this
    • Martin said Ireland was "open to contributing to peacekeeping" and would be willing to help in post-war construction
    • On the US and Russia talks happening today, Zelensky said he is expecting the US to report to him after the meeting - with future steps to a peace progress depending on this
    • Zelensky added that he had spoken to US envoy Steve Witkoff yesterday - and that the biggest obstacles to a settlement currently are territory and money, referencing the frozen Russian assets again
    • In his closing remarks President Zelensky thanked the Irish people for their support of Ukraine
  19. Peacekeeping rolepublished at 14:52 GMT 2 December 2025

    Martin says Ireland is "open to contributing to peacekeeping and peace monitoring in Ukraine".

    The taoiseach pointed to Ireland's experience of peacekeeping in Lebanon and Africa.

    Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks to the mediaImage source, PA Media
  20. Hold Russia accountablepublished at 14:49 GMT 2 December 2025

    Zelensky is hopeful countries around the world will hold Russia accountable.

    "We hope that Ireland not only on its own but together with all those who listen to Ireland in the world will support the need to hold Russia accountable for its aggression," he says.