Zelenskyy addresses the students of Ireland in videolink address to The Helix

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ireland’s third level students via a video link broadcast to The Helix on Dublin City University’s Glasnevin Campus on November 18. The event was live-streamed to other third-level institutions across Ireland, and President Zelenskyy also took questions from students.

“Russian aggression does not stop for a single day just as Russian lies to the world do not stop for a single day. Therefore, international pressure on Russia should not stop for a single day,” stated President Zelensky.

Please talk about what is happening… please look for specific projects that can support and help our defence and our people. The more collective efforts we make, the sooner we will force Russia to leave the territory of Ukraine.

“I thank you for the incredible warmth you have given our people. Ireland has welcomed 63,000 Ukrainian citizens and I am grateful to you.

“The Irish Government and society have helped Ukraine in many ways and while Ireland has a neutral status you are absolutely not neutral in your attitude and assistance to the Ukrainian people.”

Following President Zelenskyy’s speech, students were given the opportunity to engage directly with the president in a Q&A session. Students asked the President about how the invasion has affected universities in Ukraine and about social media’s impact on the invasion.

“Russian aggression does not stop for a single day just as Russian lies to the world do not stop for a single day. Therefore, international pressure on Russia should not stop for a single day.”

The event was hosted by Dublin City University in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD; Prof Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University and Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU’s School of Law and Government, attended.

Prof Dáire Keogh said: “On behalf of DCU and of the wider Irish Higher Education sector, I want to send a particular message of solidarity to the students and staff of Ukraine’s universities and higher education institutions. I commend their determination in the face of barbaric aggression, and I hope we will see a time in the near future when Ukraine’s students can pursue their studies in peace, without the fear of war and oppression hanging over them.”