Volodymyr Zelensky said he “can forget about mistakes” after US President Joe Biden referred to him as “President Putin” at a NATO summit.
Mr Zelensky acknowledged the much-scrutinised US leader’s infamous blunder while stopping over in Ireland on his way back to Ukraine.
On Thursday, Biden introduced Zelensky as “President Putin” at a summit to mark NATO’s 75th anniversary in Washington DC.
He immediately corrected himself and said: “President Putin? You are going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky.
Asked by reporters about the matter on Saturday, Zelensky said: “It’s a mistake. I think the United States has given a lot of support to the Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think so.”
The Ukrainian president held a bilateral meeting with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris at Shannon Airport in Co Clare on Saturday.
After Zelensky landed at noon, they held their first bilateral meeting on Irish soil at the airport.
The leaders embraced and shook hands after the Ukrainian leader descended the stairs of his state plane.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, was also present.
The bilateral meeting focused on the conflict in Ukraine and cooperation between the two countries.
Before the meeting, Mr. Zelensky also gave a message to the people of Ireland: “First of all, thank you very much for your support, thank you to Ireland for hosting many Ukrainian refugees, you were with us from the beginning of the Russian invasion.”
Mr Harris said he had accepted an invitation to visit kyiv in the “coming weeks”.
The Taoiseach also invited Zelensky to pay an official visit to Ireland, adding that the Ukrainian president was “very much looking forward” to addressing the Irish parliament.
At a news conference after their engagement, Mr. Harris said the two leaders discussed a possible bilateral agreement on demining, energy, humanitarian assistance and food security.
He also expressed Ireland’s full support for Ukraine’s bid for EU membership.
“I have just had a very pleasant meeting with President Zelensky. I am very pleased to welcome him to Ireland.”
He added: “It gave me the opportunity to express my condolences in person on behalf of the people of Ireland to the people of Ukraine, to the President of Ukraine, for all the loss of civilian life throughout this brutal and illegal war and Russian aggression.”
Speaking about Zelensky in general, he said: “I never cease to be amazed and inspired by his commitment to the cause of Ukraine’s freedom.
“And I know that what he wants, above all else, is to have a situation where his citizens – men, women and children – can live safely in Ukraine again.
“As I said to you today: ‘We will keep your people safe and we will look after them for as long as it takes. They are welcome here in Ireland. But I know that ultimately you want them to come home and ultimately they want to come home too.’”
“And that is the common goal we are all working towards.”
The Irish Prime Minister has confirmed Ireland’s membership in an international coalition for the return of the estimated 20,000 children.
Mr Harris, who became Taoiseach in April, offered further Irish help to thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly relocated to Russia and Belarus and entering Russian re-education programmes since the war began.
He said he was “absolutely horrified” by reports of 20,000 children abducted in Ukraine.
“Russia is stealing children from Ukraine. It is taking babies and small children from their parents and taking them to temporarily occupied territories or to Russia.”
He added: “While we need the war to stop and we need peace in Ukraine, we need these children to return home to their parents, today, where they belong.”
Mr Harris also said Ireland would make a €7 million contribution to the European Investment Bank’s EU for Ukraine fund, which addresses food and energy security needs as well as refugee support.
Asked about her view of the US president’s performance at NATO and his continuing re-election campaign, Harris said she had had recent detailed conversations with Biden, adding: “I found President Biden to be as engaging and informed – and as passionate about Ireland, I must say – as I have ever encountered him.”
“It is not my place to give an opinion on who should be the next president of the United States or anything to do with the election.”
The last time Zelensky and Harris met was on the sidelines of the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland in June.
Ireland has provided €250 million in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility and the country has hosted more than 108,000 Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
Members of the Irish Defence Forces have trained 455 Ukrainian personnel in mine clearance, battlefield casualty care and the use of non-lethal mine clearance equipment.
