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AT FIRST GLANCE, Kyiv could be mistaken for any other central European city, far from war. As I arrived ahead of St Patrick’s Day, on the overnight train from Warsaw in Kyiv, the morning sun reflected off the Dnipro River winding through the heart of the city, which is filled with the familiar sights and sounds, as people make their way to work or college.
But for millions of Ukrainians, the constant presence of war and relentless Russian violence is woven into the fabric of daily life, which is organised around outages, alarms, fear and uncertainty.
The fundamentals of daily life — electricity, heating, sleep and safety — have become unpredictable. Ordinary tasks can quickly become difficult. Daily schedules revolve around rolling blackouts, people rush to charge phones whenever power briefly returns, cook quickly before the lights go out again, and plan work, study, and family life around outages.
Even water supplies have become unpredictable. Many households store bottles, buckets and bathtubs full of water in case the supply is cut off.
This winter was particularly brutal. Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure in an effort to undermine morale and make urban areas unlivable or uninhabitable. The United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has noted that the unusually harsh winter is exposing Ukraine’s civilians to extreme hardship.
Damage to heating infrastructure often left entire apartment blocks without heat while temperatures regularly dropped to –20C at night. Families resorted to pitching hiking tents in their living rooms, sheltering inside them in layers of clothing, trying to conserve heat through the night. The elderly, trapped in freezing apartments without functioning lifts, relied on their neighbours to carry essential supplies to upper floors.
Schools were forced to close, and hospitals performed only the most urgent procedures as they fought to keep emergency power supplies running. Too often, nighttime brings the terror of attacks, making sleep impossible.
Last month alone, Ukraine had to defend itself against 6,000 attack drones, more than 5,000 glide bombs and over 150 Russian missiles. The UN has documented 2,514 civilian deaths in Ukraine in 2025, with many of them killed in attacks on their home at night, by Putin’s missiles and drones. People cannot escape the images of damaged apartment blocks, burning buildings or rescue workers searching through rubble.
Witnessing the extraordinary courage and endurance of the Ukrainian people first hand is truly a humbling experience. The people I met in Kyiv are looking to the day when peace returns and they can build a brighter future.
I see real potential for Ukraine to flourish when this terrible conflict ends. It is abundantly evident in the extraordinary creativity, innovation and resolve of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian businesses.
We want Ukraine to have peace. But how we make peace matters. Ukraine deserves a just and lasting peace, that upholds its sovereignty and independence. A peace in keeping with the UN Charter. A peace that does not reward the aggressor.
Ukraine is engaging constructively in US-led peace talks. But Russia’s response comes at night, when missiles and drones target its towns and cities. These are not the actions of a country interested in peace.
Together with our EU partners, we will keep up the pressure on Russia and ensure Ukraine has the political, financial and military support it needs.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes and found sanctuary in Ireland. Many remain with us today. They have integrated into Irish society and are enriching our communities in many ways.
I have no doubt that many will play an important role in rebuilding their country when it is safe to do so. And throughout my meetings in Kyiv, Ireland was recognised and thanked for the way in which we have welcomed Ukrainians forced to flee their country.
We in Ireland understand the transformative power of EU membership. Over the past decades it has helped open our economy, attract investment, create opportunity and raise living standards across our country.
It has connected us more deeply to our European neighbours and strengthened our place in the world.
I want the same thing for the people of Ukraine; they deserve to see a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine take its rightful place in the EU family of nations and shared values.
They deserve to be safe.
In looking ahead to our EU Presidency later this year, I hope to act as a strong and consistent advocate for Ukraine and its EU accession path. Supporting Ukraine’s future in the EU is not merely an act of solidarity but an investment in a stronger, more secure, and united Europe.
When we will all be safe.
Ireland will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We were proud to deliver this message during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland in December. It is a message I was proud to bring to Kyiv on my recent visit.
Thomas Byrne is Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence and TD for Meath East.
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