Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney is visiting the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, today.
He will hold several meetings with the Ukrainian government in secure locations and will visit areas directly affected by the Russian invasion.
Minister Coveney’s visit to Kyiv is the first by any foreign minister on the United Nations Security Council since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.
He travelled overnight by secure military transport and is accompanied by Ireland’s ambassador to Ukraine.
His discussions with the Ukrainian government will focus on how Ireland can continue to provide political, security and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
There will also be a focus on how it can assist Ukraine in its application for EU candidate status and to bring forward further EU sanctions on Russia.
The minister plans to report back to the UN Security Council, where Ireland holds a seat.
Ireland has provided €20 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring counties and €33 million in non-lethal assistance for the country’s military.
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said Ireland has a commitment “which we must rise to and will deliver to take our share of the refugees that are fleeing a war”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said: “We are, fortunately, in a position to have an economy due to the decisions that we have made in the past, where we are able to over time ensure that we can meet the economic costs of those who will be able to move to our country.”
He said he and Minister for Expenditure and Public Reform Michael McGrath indicated that up to €3 billion would need be set aside to do this.
Asked if the Government had overpromised on what Ireland could provide, Mr Donohoe said “what we said we would do is all we can to help those who come to our country in need, and we will deliver that promise.
“But this is an emergency and every country across Europe who’s dealing with this emergency is working so hard to find emergency accommodation, and that’s what we are doing.”
