LATE TONIGHT, UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will touch down in Ireland for his first official visit.

It comes at a time when peace talks, brokered by the United States, between Ukraine and Russia are at a critical moment. So why then is Zelenskyy, and the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska coming to visit our small island on the edge of Europe?

From an Irish perspective, Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the visit is an opportunity to demonstrate and underpin the warm and close relationship between both countries, and to show Ireland’s support as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s illegal war.

Martin says the visit is a recognition of the valued contribution the Ukrainian community here has made across the country.

Since 2022, more than 120,000 Ukrainians have sought refugee status in Ireland. Some have returned, but about 80,000 remain.While here, Zelenskyy will meet with some of them tomorrow.

In terms of other engagements, it will be a jam-packed but short trip.

Top of the list is a bilateral meeting with the Taoiseach.

Martin and Zelenskyy have met on numerous occasions, but tomorrow’s meeting will be the first formal one in Ireland. During their meeting, the Taoiseach plans to discuss the ways in which Ireland can support efforts for peace in Ukraine.

Another key talking point will be Ukraine’s hopes of join the European Union, an ambition Ireland has been a vocal advocate of.

Speaking ahead of Zelenksyy’s arrival, the Taoiseach said he is eager to discuss how to help accelerate Ukraine’s journey towards EU membership, including during our Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026.

While here, Zelenskyy will also pay a courtesy call to President Catherine Connolly in the Áras.

He is also expected to be involved in a new Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum, alongside the Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee.

This forum will act as a method of exploring business, trade and investment links between Ukraine and Ireland.

Shoring up support for Ukraine

Speaking to The Journal, John O’Brennan, a political scientist at Maynooth University, explained that from Zelenskyy’s perspective, there are likely three main reasons for this week’s visit.

And spoiler, they align pretty well with the Irish reasons.

Firstly, O’Brennan said it is likely an opportunity for Zelenskyy to say thank you to the Irish government and Irish people for all of the support offered since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

The second reason relates to the massively insecure position Ukraine is currently in.

Essentially, the visit is an opportunity to shore up support for Ukraine, O’Brennan said.

“It isn’t that support is actually flagging amongst the European allies, but I think there’s just this real sense within Kiev that they’re being abandoned by the United States, essentially. That if you look at the shape of that 28-point deal, the entire thing was written in Moscow,” he said.

And finally, O’Brennan believes the visit is about planning ahead for next year, and Ireland holding the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.

“There may be critical decisions taken then, if not before then. And I think this is a way of just talking to people in Dublin about where Ukraine stands, not just on the war, but on the preparations for EU membership. Ireland, I think, has a kind of disproportionate role in that sense,” O’Brennan said, noting that Ireland is held in high esteem by many of the EU candidate countries to the east of the EU.

In O’Brennan’s view, the US-led peace talks are peace talks in name only.

“They’re not peace talks. They’re surrender talks. We have to be really clear about this,” he told The Journal. 

In his view, a major fear for Ukraine right now is being adandoned by its biggest ally, the US. 

If this happens, the role of the EU will come into focus and the bloc would have to step up and do more to help Ukraine. 

“And at the moment, that just doesn’t look like it is happening,” O’Brennan said.