Opening Remarks by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, at the Inaugural Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum

02 December 2025, Iveagh House, Dublin

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A Chairde - Friends,

I am very pleased to welcome you all here to the inaugural Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum.

It has been my particular honour to welcome His Excellency President Zelenskyy to Ireland at such a difficult time for Ukraine and its people.

Volodymyr – you are most welcome. In Dublin you are among steadfast friends.

Russia’s war against the right of the people of Ukraine to be free has been going on for many years. The latest and most brutal campaign launched in February 2022 was one which the Putin regime arrogantly believed would quickly succeed.

They believed that the sheer scale of Russia’s military advantage and its propaganda war could not be resisted.

But they were dramatically wrong.

They were wrong because they simply cannot understand the will of a people to be free. The will of a people to live in a country which respects democratic rights. The will of a people to be part of a community of free democracies.

Mr President, the bravery, dignity and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of the savage assault of an imperialist aggressor is deeply inspiring.

You and the people of Ukraine are fighting for European values that we all cherish – freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

After nearly four years you have shown time and again that the people of Ukraine will not freely give up their values and their demand to be free.

In June I spoke to the European Parliament on behalf of the Irish government and people. I made clear it clear then that Ukraine’s struggle is a struggle for European values – and that we have a duty to support Ukraine’s membership of the European Union.

More than ever before, the people of Ukraine have a right to have our unequivocal support in their quest for a secure European future.

You have our unswerving respect and our deepest admiration.

And you have our unwavering support and solidarity for as long as it takes.

Mr. President,

As the world has seen, these are critical weeks for Ukraine. You know well that my government stands fully with you.

We welcome all efforts to secure a just, secure and lasting peace including those led by the US.

Through your leadership you have shown that Ukraine is ready and willing to engage to bring this illegal and brutal war to an end.

That same resolve is wholly absent in Moscow, and we have yet to see any sign that Putin has any interest in peace.

Rather, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine in a bid to gain leverage at the negotiating table. It must not be allowed to succeed.

We will continue to stand with you until peace comes - as it will and we look forward to the day. The people of Ukraine’s deepest desire is to able to live in peace – and I am determined that Ireland will play a role in the recovery and reconstruction which Ukraine will require.

This is what we are here to talk about this afternoon.

When President Zelenskyy and I met earlier in Government Buildings, we were both very keen to take the enormously positive and friendly relationship between our countries and to make it deeper and wider by strengthening our economic ties.

We want this to happen Government-to-Government level, business-to-business, and people-to-people.

There is real potential for trade and investment in both directions, and we want to see it flourish.

Throughout the war, the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian enterprises have shown themselves to be enormously creative, innovative and resilient.

These are qualities that we in Ireland appreciate and hopefully mirror.

In September 2024, Ireland and Ukraine agreed a Comprehensive Agreement on Support for Ukraine and Cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland.

The agreement involves pursuing bilateral and long-term commitments across a range of areas, including support to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

Russia’s aggression has taken an enormous economic, social, cultural and human toll, that can never be reversed or forgotten.

The destruction by Russia of housing, roads, railways, electricity generation and other infrastructure continues. Earlier this year the UN estimated that it would take €500 billion to rebuild what has been lost.

Recovery and reconstruction will be an enormous task, and it will take time. It will demand the same commitment from the international community and Ireland is fully committed to playing its part.

In the EU, Ireland strongly supports the EU Ukraine Facility, which provides Ukraine with up to €50 billion in stable and predictable financial support from 2024 to 2027.

The EU is also mobilising international support for Ukraine's economic and social stabilisation, reconstruction and recovery from the effects of war.

I have made it very clear to my colleagues in the European Council, that we must find a way of using Russia’s assets for Ukraine. It would be an unconscionable outcome if these assets were allowed to return to Russia.

Mr President,

Ireland has been transformed – economically and socially – by our membership of the European Union. It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for us.

We want the same thing for the people of Ukraine – we want to see a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine take its rightful place in the EU family of nations and shared values.

EU Enlargement will be a key priority of our EU Presidency in the second half of next year. I give you my personal assurance that we will continue to be steadfast supporters of Ukraine during our Presidency.

Ireland’s economic development did not happen overnight, but with a stable political environment and a pro-enterprise society in Ireland, we have been able to prosper within the European Union and further afield.

We know that you will too.

In that context I am delighted to be able to announce additional support for the OECD’s Ukraine Country Programme, recognising the important role that the OECD can play in advancing Ukraine’s reform path and economic development.

It is wonderful to see the interest of our Irish business community in this forum today.

Mr President,

In the audience here today, there are some very senior and successful people here from the agri-business, medical technology, pharmaceutical, construction, communications technology, logistics, transport and aviation, and energy sectors.

These are sectors in which Ireland excels at an international level and I’m sure that these senior people are here because they support the reconstruction of Ukraine and to support the Ukraine economy.

I know of Ukraine’s need for investment in all of these sectors and I hope that this Forum can lay the foundation for further partnerships between businesses in Ireland and businesses in Ukraine.

There are already some large Irish companies active in Ukraine and others with advanced interest in investment and partnership.

Despite the daily damage inflicted by Russia, the Ukrainian economy has remained remarkably resilient and has potential for stronger growth.

Eight Irish companies attended the recent ReBuild Ukraine Conference in Warsaw, a clear sign that interest is growing

I would also like to acknowledge that many of the companies, their employees and shareholders have contributed to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, and I commend them for that.

Mr President,

I want to also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the contribution that thousands of Ukrainians who have come to Ireland since the start of this terrible war have made to Irish life. They are most welcome.

I know that you look to the day when peace returns and that when it comes, many of your fellow country women and men can return home.

As a country that has experienced migration, this is something that we understand.

Ukrainians who have made their homes with us and those who return will create bridges between our two countries.

I would like to recognise the contribution made by Ukrainians to the Irish economy – working across all the sectors I mentioned.

I know that we have a few Ukrainian owned or run businesses here today as well.

We welcome the contribution they are making to our economy and the key role they can play in the future stimulating economic links between our two countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earlier today, together with President Zelenskyy I signed an ambitious Roadmap on the Ukraine-Ireland Partnership, which sets out a range of areas where our countries will work together, to further build and strengthen our cooperation.

We have agreed that today’s Ukraine Ireland Economic Forum will become an annual event, and we are encouraging Irish and Ukrainian businesses to work together, and to consider creating a Ukraine Ireland Business Council.

Such Councils are an important platform for business connections and partnerships and identifying opportunities for closer business links.

And so, therefore, I wish this Forum every success today and hope that it will stimulate just such a council, and I would like to thank IBEC and Enterprise Ireland for their efforts in making today’s event possible.

President,

The strength, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people has inspired the world. So, too, has your innovation, creativity and accomplishment in technology, industry, science, and in the resilience of your economy.

Even in these dark days, we work for better times, when the Ukrainian people can chart their own path towards prosperity in freedom and liberty.

On a personal level, I want to say how inspiring you have been in your leadership. At some of the most tense moments of the last four years you have participated in European summits. I and everyone present have been able to see your absolute determination that Ukraine will never bow down to the aggressor. That your values and culture will survive. That now will be the moment when justice will prevail.

Because of you and because of the people Ukraine, the cry of all who believe in freedom and democracy is and will remain Slava Ukraini!