Ukrainian President Zelensky made a brief stop in Shannon, Ireland, on his way home from the NATO summit in Washington DC.
Zelensky met with Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris and when asked by reporters about President Biden introducing him as “President Putin,” he said it was a “mistake” and that because the US had “done a lot” for Ukraine, “we can forget some mistakes.”
At the final press conference of the NATO summit on Thursday, Biden confused Zelensky with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and also referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Trump.”
Zelenskyy then thanked Ireland for its help in hosting the refugees.
“Thank you very much for your support, thank you to the people of Ireland for hosting so many Ukrainian refugees. You have been with us since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Thank you very much,” Zelenskyy said.
The Taoiseach said he would visit the Ukrainian capital, kyiv, “in the coming weeks”.
Harris also confirmed that the two leaders had discussed a possible bilateral agreement on demining, energy, humanitarian assistance and food security.
He said: “Of course Ireland is militarily neutral, but we are not neutral when it comes to understanding the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, freedom and oppression. And we have provided very practical assistance to Ukraine in terms of advancing its cause for EU membership.”
Harris also promised to work to bring Ukraine closer together kidnapped children For Russian forces at home.
The Irish government 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.
