International

Volodymyr Zelensky silences Irish parliament all the way from Ukraine

Published

4 years ago

April 7, 2022

Volodymyr Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky hushed the Irish parliament on Wednesday all the way from Ukraine, on a day when the languages of the two countries intermingled inside and outside the chamber.

The histories of the two countries are intertwined, the Dail heard, as Mr Zelensky spoke to a state marking 100 years since its foundation.

Those sentiments came not from Mr Zelensky himself, but from the politicians who pledged solidarity to the people of Kyiv, Mariupol, Bucha and a host of other war-torn towns.

The Ukrainian leader, when he spoke at 10am on Wednesday, had a different script to the leaders who have previously addressed a joint sitting of the Oireachtas.

He did not, like Tony Blair in 1998, regale politicians with memories of childhood holidays in Co Donegal.

Neither did he share snapshots from career-making moments in Dublin, as European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker did in 2018.

The only Irish poetry referenced came from Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, who cited WB Yeats.

Instead, Mr Zelensky asked for help during the first virtual address in the history of the Oireachtas.

What Irish politicians heard was a demand for Irish and European support for the country in the face of Russian aggression.

Gratitude too, but calls to go further.

Mr Zelensky said Ireland has supported Ukraine from the start of the war.

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He said: “You did not doubt starting helping us, you began doing this right away and, although you are a neutral country, you have not remained neutral to the disaster and to the mishaps that Russia has brought to Ukraine.”

The voice of the Ukrainian leader, which has been heard in parliaments all the way from Brussels to Washington, was replaced by that of a translator.

But unmistakable was the impassive face of Mr Zelensky, which loomed above legislators from two screens behind Mr O Fearghail.

Dressed in military green, the Ukrainian president looked on as Irish politicians wore bright hues of blue and yellow.

Lapels, dresses and pocket-squares were all turned into expressions of silent support for Ukraine.

At the entrance to the Dail chamber, Oireachtas staff had also placed two small baskets of yellow and blue flowers.

Looking on too were around 50 ambassadors to Ireland from countries around the globe.

For them hunger is a weapon against us ordinary people as an instrument of domination

Volodymyr Zelensky

Mr Zelensky told those gathered that Russia is using hunger as a weapon in its war against his country.

“This night, our territory was again hit by Russian missiles,” he said.

“They are destroying things that are sustaining livelihoods to people.

“They also have blocked all of our sea ports, together with the vessels that had already agricultural cargos for exports.

“Why are they doing this? Because for them hunger is a weapon against us ordinary people as an instrument of domination.”

The Ukrainian leader stayed just long enough to hear a message of support from Irish premier Micheal Martin, who had sat upright, leaning forward, as he listened intently.

Mr Zelensky must have heard too, from thousands of miles away in Ukraine, the thunderous applause from senators and TDs inside the Dail chamber.

Not all members applauded – four People Before Profit TDs refused to clap, even as other politicians stood for a minute of applause.

The reason, a spokesperson said, was a disagreement with calls from Mr Zelensky for Nato involvement in the war, as well citing demands for more sanctions and a “decision to ban opposition parties” in Ukraine.

“Russia will have to live with the shame of what they have done in Ukraine for generations. Those responsible will be held to account,” Mr Martin told the Dail.

“We are with Ukraine and I am certain that, in the end, Ukraine will prevail.

“We are a militarily neutral country. However, we are not politically neutral in the face of war crimes. Quite the opposite.”

Outside the gates of Leinster House in the Irish capital, a small group of Ukrainian supporters gathered to listen to proceedings.

Irish and Ukrainian schoolchildren from St Joseph’s in the Dublin suburb of Fairview sang the national anthems of the two countries.

Nick Kozlov, from the Ukrainian Crisis Centre, led the crowd in chants.

“I believe, if we have young people like this, Ukraine will never be beaten,” he said.

As the two languages blended together outside, inside Leinster House the histories of the two countries were explicitly linked.

One hundred years after the creation of the Irish Free State, Ireland’s own struggle for independence was invoked, as was 19th century Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell and African-American abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

“In the long history of our own country, we have never invaded another but we do know what it’s like to have been invaded,” Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dail.

“And to have the very existence of our national identity questioned too. For these reasons, we feel for the idealism of the Ukrainian people – their defiance and their determination to face down a new evil empire.”

Unity and silence reigned for most speeches, punctured only by renewed opposition calls for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador – a move resisted so far by the Irish Government.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, dressed in white, said it is “long past time” to eject Yury Filatov.

That demand was conspicuously clapped by some TDs on the Government benches.

There was levity too.

Senator David Norris, partially kept from the corridors of the Seanad by ill health, made an appearance.

His particularly loud cheers at various stages in proceedings prompted applause and laughter, as well as compliments from Climate Minister Eamon Ryan.

But above all else, there was poignancy.

“Slava Ukraini,” Mr Martin told the embattled Ukrainian leader as he ended his speech.

Only a few metres above him, invisible to the Taoiseach, Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko looked on.

Ms Gerasko, surrounded by colleagues, echoed quietly: “Slava Ukraini.”

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Related Topics:Irish parliament Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky

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Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills 8 Members of Same Family

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April 4, 2026

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Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills 8 Members of Same Family

An earthquake in Afghanistan has killed at least eight members of the same family and injured others after striking late on Friday, officials said, deepening the humanitarian toll in a region prone to powerful temblors.

The 5.8‑magnitude earthquake struck at 8:42 p.m. local time (1612 GMT) on Friday, with its epicentre located in Badakhshan Province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at a depth of 186 kilometres (115 miles) beneath the surface, a depth that allowed the shaking to be felt over a wide area, including in the capital Kabul and other surrounding provinces.

Shaking was reported across multiple regions of Afghanistan, with residents describing rooms swaying and items falling from shelves, according to international news agency reports.

In Kabul Province, the Gosfand Dara area was among the most severely affected. Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman confirmed to AFP that eight members of a single household lost their lives when their home collapsed during the quake. A two‑year‑old child was the lone survivor from the family; the country’s disaster management agency said the boy sustained injuries and was receiving medical care.

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Afghan authorities have not yet detailed whether other deaths or injuries occurred beyond this household in Kabul Province, but tremors were widely felt from the northeast to the national capital and beyond.

Afghanistan sits in a seismically active zone along the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates interact. This makes the region particularly susceptible to strong earthquakes that can cause widespread damage, especially in areas with fragile infrastructure.

In August, a much stronger magnitude‑6.1 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, flattening mountainside villages and killing more than 2,200 people, making it one of the country’s deadliest in recent memory. That disaster displaced tens of thousands, destroyed homes, schools and roads, and underscored Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic calamities.

The latest tremor serves as a stark reminder of that risk, particularly as communities still recover from past earthquakes amid ongoing economic hardship and limited emergency response capacity.

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International

Iran Crisis Escalates as Second US Warplane Crashes in Persian Gulf

Published

11 hours ago

April 4, 2026

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Iran Crisis Escalates as Second US Warplane Crashes in Persian Gulf

The already fragile security situation in the Middle East has taken a dramatic turn following reports that a second U.S. military aircraft has crashed in the Persian Gulf, intensifying tensions between the United States and Iran.

According to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times, a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, widely known as the Warthog, went down near the Strait of Hormuz. The pilot was successfully rescued, but the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, with early indications suggesting a combination of operational risk and possible hostile engagement.

The incident occurred almost simultaneously with reports that an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory. Iranian state media claimed responsibility, stating that its air defence systems intercepted the aircraft. U.S. officials have confirmed the loss of the jet, though investigations into the precise circumstances are ongoing.

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Iranian state television further escalated tensions by urging civilians to report the whereabouts of the missing U.S. crew member or members, offering a reward for information. Analysts warn that such actions could complicate rescue missions and heighten the risk of further confrontation.

The A-10 aircraft is believed to have been operating in support of these rescue efforts when it crashed, underscoring the опасность of ongoing operations in the region. Reports indicate that U.S. rescue teams have encountered hostile conditions, including potential ground fire, making recovery efforts increasingly challenging.

U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified rhetoric amid the crisis, confirming earlier strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including a highway bridge near Tehran. He warned that Washington is prepared to escalate military action if necessary, while claiming that U.S. operations have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

The developments have placed renewed focus on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route through which a significant portion of the world’s energy supply passes. Any disruption to this corridor could trigger major economic последствия, including spikes in global oil prices.

At the same time, the crisis unfolds against the backdrop of a proposed $1.5 trillion U.S. defence budget for fiscal year 2027, fueling debate over increased military spending and its implications for domestic priorities.

Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions appear to have stalled. Iranian officials have dismissed the possibility of negotiations under current conditions, denying reports that Tehran is seeking a ceasefire and maintaining a hardline stance against Washington.

The near-simultaneous loss of two U.S. military aircraft marks a significant escalation in the conflict, raising concerns about a potential broader regional confrontation if tensions continue to rise.

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Iran’s IRGC Threatens Google, Microsoft, Apple as ‘Legitimate Military Targets’

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Iran’s IRGC Threatens Google, Microsoft, Apple as ‘Legitimate Military Targets’

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning to major US technology companies, declaring them legitimate military targets amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

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The threats follow a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reporting more than 230 airstrikes in 24 hours, targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Tehran has accused Israel and the US of also hitting civilian and academic institutions, including Isfahan University of Technology and the Iran University of Science and Technology.

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