Zelensky and Irish PM Micheál Martin
© PA MediaUkraine Leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Irish PM Micheál Martin
The Irish government has approved an extra €125m (£110m) in support for Ukraine in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

It comes after the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland for an official one-day visit.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin made the announcement at a press conference with Zelensky.

Martin said it was an honour to welcome Zelensky and the first lady Olena Zelenska on the first official visit of a Ukrainian president to Ireland.

They left later on Tuesday night where Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said it had been an "honour to have them both in Ireland".

Martin said Ireland would continue to support Ukraine for as long as was needed.

He said the visit came at a "critical moment" for Ukraine and for Europe and underlined the value he placed in "the friendship between Ukraine and Ireland".

"Our is a relationship built on shared values, freedom, democracy, the right of all states to determine their own future - values the people of Ukraine have sacrificed to defend and protect," he added.

Martin said Ireland was "open to contributing to peacekeeping and peace monitoring in Ukraine".

He said Ireland would also be willing to help in post-war construction in Ukraine.

Military Zelensky
© ReutersMilitary and Zelensky
'We are grateful'

President Zelensky said Ireland was a "neutral country" but not an "indifferent country".

"We are grateful to it.

"You are helping us and we appreciate it... Ireland's interests really matter because it is the influence of a large global community."

He said Ireland and Ukraine had signed a roadmap for a partnership between the countries for at least the next five years.

"We hope that during this period, Ukraine will become a member of the European Union," he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Irish government, Irish communities and "every Irish home" that has sheltered Ukrainians.
arrival
© Taolseach Michael Martin/ReutersZelensky's arrival to Dublin
Earlier, a guard of honour took place as Zelensky visited Government buildings in Dublin, where the Ukrainian and Irish anthems were played.

It is understood Zelensky was also updated on the peace talks by a Ukrainian delegation in Dublin during the visit.

Ukrainian and US negotiators held meetings in Florida in recent days in an effort to revise a peace deal viewed as favouring Russia.

US President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later.

Zelensky also visited Aras an Uachtarain on Tuesday, where he was greeted by Irish President Catherine Connolly, and signed the visitors book in her study.

"We greatly appreciate Ireland's generosity in providing temporary shelter to displaced Ukrainians," he wrote in the book.
Z signs book
© PA MediaZelensky signed the visitors book after meeting Catherine Connolly at Aras an Uachtara
Further funding for Ukraine

Irish ministers signed off on an extra €100m (£88m) in funding for non-lethal military support for Ukraine and a further €25m (£22m) for the country's urgent energy needs.

Martin said on Tuesday that to date Ireland had provided €340m (£299m) in financial support to Ukraine, including more than €173m (£152m) in humanitarian supports, and €166m (£146m) in non-lethal military assistance.

The proposals were brought to the meeting, which took place in Dublin, by Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Helen McEntee.

McEntee also proposed Ireland's participation in an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.
The commission will be responsible for determining claims for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian internationally wrongful acts committed by the Russian federations against Ukraine, an Irish government source said.
Zelensky also addressed both Irish houses of parliament - the Dáil and the Seanad.

Speaking before the address, Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Verona Murphy said the Good Friday Agreement was "born from decades of pain and division".

"Yet it proved that even the deepest wounds can heal when people choose negotiation over violence.

"That lesson gives us hope for Ukraine," Murphy said.

In his address, Zelensky said:
"Ukrainian and Irish people are among the few in Europe who spent centuries fighting for the right to remain themselves. Ireland has stood firmly and clearly for our independence and for a just end to this war so thank you for your steadfast support for these years of standing with us."
The Ukrainian leader was given a standing ovation after the address.

He later attended the inauguration of the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum, alongside Harris and McEntee.
Podium Z
© Maxwells/PAZelensky also addressed both Irish houses of parliament - the Dáil and the Seanad
More than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have sought refugee status in Ireland since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022.

Some have returned and about 80,000 are estimated to be still living in Ireland.

'We pray for children, for soldiers, for all of people'
Ukraine women
© UnknownA group of Ukrainian women who fled the war to Ireland gather every Sunday to pray for peace.
Ukrainian refugee Uriivna Olena is one of a group of women who attend Ukrainian Mass every Sunday in north Dublin and prays for the war to end. She told BBC News NI after a Mass service finished last Sunday: "The women are hopeful peace talks currently under way will be successful to end the war."

Tetiana Bilous, who is also a Ukrainian refugee, said:
"We go every Sunday to church to pray and we pray for children, for humans, for soldiers, for all of people and we wish war would end soon. It's very hard for us. All of us are praying for peace in Ukraine. We hope that this terrible war is finally ended."
The women are hopeful peace talks currently under way will be successful to end the war:
"The war starting has been very difficult and understanding someone can have aggression against us, we are just people, citizens. We were living a normal life and suddenly everything was interrupted, everything was ended."
Ms Bilous said she is very grateful for the support from Ireland.
Ukraine guy
© UnknownUkrainian Mykhaylo Fedynyshyn has lived in Ireland for more than 20 years.
Mykhaylo Fedynshyn has been living in Ireland for more than 20 years and he also attended Mass. He said he is hopeful peace talks would be successful.
"My relatives still work in Ukraine and I hope they will get back to normal life, as it was before the war. So no missile, no sirens, no explosions. I am hopeful] because Ukrainian people fighting so hard for independence, for freedom, so it has to be ended at some stage. But I believe it will be in Ukrainian favour, we will get the victory over our enemy."