Key facts
- Ireland's Council of the EU presidency ends on December 31, 2026, setting the deadline Martin named.
- Martin said opening the final two clusters would require persuasion and rely on EU goodwill for Ukraine.
- Martin said Ireland is committed to helping Ukraine finance its defense against Russia through 2027.
- Martin cited the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia and disbursement of the EU support loan.
- Martin said Ireland and Ukraine are exploring a memorandum on drone technology, focused on maritime security.
- Zelensky said US support for a European seat at talks was a key development in the diplomatic process.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on November 11 that advancing Ukraine's accession to the European Union as far as possible by the end of the year remains his goal, as Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU runs to December 31, 2026. He spoke at a joint press conference in Dublin with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in the city earlier that day ahead of the European Political Community summit on November 12.
"It is my strong belief that Ukraine's future is within the European Union," Martin said at the start of the briefing. He said Ireland had put Ukraine at the heart of its presidency program and had opened three negotiating clusters, and would do all it could to open the remaining two before the presidency ends.
Ukraine unlocked a third and fourth of the six enlargement clusters on October 13, leaving two still to go. Martin acknowledged that opening the final clusters before the end of the year would require "persuasion," and said Ireland hopes to draw on the bloc's "goodwill" for Ukraine to meet that deadline.
Martin also cited the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia and the disbursement of the EU support loan, saying he remained committed to helping Ukraine finance its defense against Russia through 2027.
Zelensky thanked Martin for Ireland's support and said Kyiv is ready to advance its bid. "We are set to open all negotiation clusters this year," he said. "This is a very important achievement."
Zelensky's visit followed the latest round of US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The talks yielded no immediate breakthrough, but US Envoy Jared Kushner said he believed they laid the groundwork for future multilateral talks involving Europe. Zelensky said US support for a European presence at the negotiating table was a key development. "This is very important, because the war in Ukraine is a war in Europe," he said. "To end this war without the participation of Europe is unfair and impossible, to be honest."
Kushner and Witkoff are expected to brief Zelensky in Dublin following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, according to the report.
At the briefing, Martin and Zelensky also announced that Ukraine and Ireland were preparing to partner on joint drone production. Martin said the two countries were exploring a joint memorandum on drone technology, with Ireland most interested in unmanned systems that support maritime security, and that the work is still ongoing.