President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Ireland's Parliament on Dec 2nd, 2025.RollingNews.ie
Mr Zelensky shook hands with TDs and Senators who filled the Dáil [Ireland's Parliament] ahead of his speech. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy paid tribute to Mr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, who she said was "a model for women worldwide".
She said that war was "a human tragedy" and was "never a solution".
"Ireland knows this truth. Our own history teaches us that dialogue, however difficult, can bring peace," she said.
"Together with our EU partners, Ireland will stand firm behind Ukraine to ensure Russia ends its aggression.
"Ireland’s journey to peace was long and arduous, but it succeeded because people persevered in the belief that peace is the only solution, the same possibility exists for Ukraine."
Zelensky said that both the Irish and Ukrainians are "among the few in Europe who spent centuries fighting for the right to remain themselves".
He said that while fatigue from the war is growing in some societies, "we do not feel that your voice, the voice of Ireland, is (turning) quieter".
"Thank you for your steadfast support, for these years of standing with us, and thank you for not losing faith in us, just as we do not lose faith in the day that will come when we will welcome all our friends to Ukraine in peace and when we will welcome home all our people who were forced to flee back to a peaceful Ukraine."
He said it was a "great honour for me to stand here today in a country that understands the price of freedom".
He said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was "a criminal and unprovoked act of aggression which cries for justice", and said Russia wanted to treat Ukraine as its property and Ukraine "as if they belong in its backyard like livestock".
Watch President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, full speech here:
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.