Statement by the Taoiseach on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Today we mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, a war that has brought large-scale conflict back to the European continent and immense suffering to Ukraine’s people.

It is a brutal conflict in which Russia has shown an absolute disregard for human life and international law.

Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed. Millions have been displaced. Children have been forcibly removed from their families. Cities have been bombed, besieged and plunged into cold and darkness.

Russian attacks have targeted energy, transport, and even hospitals and schools. They have left millions of Ukrainians without heat and without power in the coldest winter for years.

Russia has tried and failed to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. It will never succeed.

When I met with President Zelenskyy during his visit to Ireland in December, it was clear that he and the people of Ukraine will continue to fight to defend their freedom and their security. Their bravery and resilience are unrivalled.

Ukrainians, in their defence forces and throughout their society, are fighting to defend what is important and precious – their country, their culture, their community. Ukraine is and will always be a part of our European family.

In Ireland we have welcomed 120,000 Ukrainians seeking sanctuary in Ireland since the war began – 84,000 of whom are currently in the country. Irish people have opened their hearts, their homes and their communities to a people in need and the Ukrainians who have come here have made an immense contribution to the communities in which they live. We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

We will work during our Presidency of the European Union to advance Ukraine’s journey towards membership of the EU.

I will attend a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing later today where I will join with my fellow leaders in reaffirming our unwavering support for Ukraine and our commitment to a just and lasting peace for the country.

As we mark this most awful of anniversaries, let us be clear - the war could end in the morning if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine.

President Putin must surely recognise that he underestimated not only the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people, but the strength and unity of Europe.

I firmly hope that the current negotiations can result in peace for Ukraine - a peace that is durable, credible and consistent with international law.

Until that day comes, we are proud to stand with Ukraine, politically, economically, militarily and diplomatically.

Slava Ukraini!