There is now a real chance to end the war, but we must try and seize it’The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country is “closer to peace than ever before” as he thanked Ireland for its “steadfast support” and “never losing faith” in his country’s cause. In a historic address to a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas, Mr Zelensky appealed to Ireland “as a country that understands the price of freedom” to use its soft power in the global community to apply pressure for a real and just peace. He said: “One strong country can start a war. Another strong country can help to end a war. But to restore justice and defend what is right, we need a community, a world made up of many different nations. It is this community of nations thatmakes peace truly lasting. Against the backdrop of talks in Moscow that could determine his country’s future, he said: “Ukraine is closer to peace than ever before. There is a real, real chance.“But we must seize this chance fully – the whole world, not just another powerful country. Ukraine wants peace.” Mr Zelensky urged TDs and senators to “remember your voice matters” in the UN and the EU, and “from your thoughts here in Dublin to every home in the global Irish community around the world – that is millions of people.” “Just as there is no capital in the world unaware of what St Patrick’s Day is, there should be no capital that does not know that the Irish, together with the Ukrainians and many other nations, are united for a real peace.”Mr Zelensky’s speech was met with a standing ovation and sustained applause from most members. He added: “So 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 that the day will come when we welcome all our friends to Ukraine in peace and when we will welcome home all our people who were forced to flee – back home.” Mr Zelensky’s one-day state visit to Ireland coincided with talks in Moscow between Russian president Vladimir Putin and US officials on redefining a 28-point peace plan aimed at ending the war.
