Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar says negotiations on EU accession for Ukraine should begin by the end of the year.
2/ Arriving at the #EUCO in Brussels he said: “Obviously, Ukraine has to meet the criteria. But we've all been enormously impressed about how the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people are doing everything they can to meet the test or membership.
3/ “I don't think we should dilute those tests but if Ukraine satisfies the criteria for membership, then we should advance their application.”
4/ Mr Varadkar said the fact that Ukraine is partly occupied by Russia should not hold up accession talks, referring to Cyprus as an EU member state where part of its territory was not under its control.
5/ The Taoiseach will meet @ZelenskyyUa at the summit via rotating bilaterals involving small groups of EU leaders
6/ He told reporters: “This is an opportunity for us as Europeans to say that we stand 100%, behind Ukraine. We will stand with Ukraine until Ukraine has peace again, and achieved a lasting peace.
7/ "That means Russia withdrawing, and it means Ukraine being allowed to continue on its democratic and European path.”
He said Ireland would not change its position regarding only sending non-lethal support to Ukraine.
He said Ireland would not change its position regarding only sending non-lethal support to Ukraine.
8/ Mr Varadkar said: “Ukraine is seeking military aid from other European countries, particularly Germany, particularly France. We don't have fighter jets, or tanks or heavy weapons. Even if we wanted to, it would be against our policy of neutrality.”
9/ He said Ireland was supporting Ukraine in financial and humanitarian ways, as well as sending body armour.
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