Simon Harris visits Ukraine to reaffirm Irish support

Simon Harris visits Ukraine to reaffirm Irish support

This week’s host, Pat Leahy, is joined on the line by Irish Times Europe Correspondent Jack Power to discuss Taoiseach Simon Harris’s visit to Ukraine earlier this week.


Taoiseach Simon Harris met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday to pledge €36 million in funding to humanitarian organisations operating in Ukraine, funding of a non-lethal character and therefore would not contravene Ireland’s neutrality.


Simon Harris also signed an agreement of understanding with Ukraine, a document reaffirming Ireland’s long-term support for the eastern European country that is now 2½-years into its conflict with Russia.


The Taoiseach met Zelenskiy in the capital Kyiv which, like several other cities there, continues to experience heavy Russian bombardment. The city now operates on a much-reduced energy supply, with households only having power for four hours per day, a result of strategic Russian strikes on power plants and other energy sources. Jack notes a palpable sense of fatigue in Kyiv, etched in the faces of Zelenskiy and people going about their day there.


Also on this episode, Pat and Jack discuss the likelihood of Michael McGrath landing a prestigious portfolio under European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Could von der Leyen’s preference for gender balance scupper McGrath’s prospects?


Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(1006)

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

US president Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland, asserting strategic and security needs but also a 'psychological need' to take over the vast, frozen island from Denmark. So how do Greenlanders t...

12 Tammi 22min

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The long-anticipated EU-Mercosur trade deal was provisionally approved on Friday, despite the oppositio...

9 Tammi 52min

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

After the weekend’s US airstrikes on Venezuela, and arrest of its president Nicolás Maduro by US special forces, The Irish Times’ China Correspondent Denis Staunton has been pondering what it means fo...

7 Tammi 40min

What are the chances of a border poll in the next ten years?

What are the chances of a border poll in the next ten years?

For part two of our festive ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode Hugh Linehan is joined on today’s Inside Politics podcast by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne. In this round they tackle listener...

31 Joulu 202534min

Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis

Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis

This episode was first published in July 2025. You can tell an awful lot about a society by who it labels a genius. You can also learn from who it excludes from that category, who it enables and what ...

29 Joulu 202539min

Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister for Defence and the centre holding

Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister for Defence and the centre holding

Hugh is joined by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne for part one of our traditional festive AMA. This year listeners asked about the presidential nomination process, the influence of p...

24 Joulu 202526min

What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham

What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham

Dr Kevin Cunningham of TUD is one of Ireland’s most insightful political scientists and pollsters. At the Inside Politics live show in early December he joined Hugh, Pat, Cormac and Ellen on stage at ...

22 Joulu 202520min

Why the EU's climbdown on Ukraine aid matters

Why the EU's climbdown on Ukraine aid matters

It was a difficult week for Micheal Martin and FIanna Fáil with the delivery of the report on the party's failed presidential campaign. Martin's position as leader is safe for now, but questions and d...

19 Joulu 202540min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-pinnalla
rss-asiastudio
otetaan-yhdet
the-ulkopolitist
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-podme-livebox
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
rss-ulkopoditiikkaa
aihe
rikosmyytit
rss-merja-mahkan-rahat