It's been three years of sleepless nights for Ukrainians
When I unlock my phone, I am met by a home screen filled with apps. Apps for communicating, apps for news, apps for social media, and so on. But when I travelled to Ukraine in April, a new app was added to this cluster. An app for air raid alerts.
A lot of our mornings begin with the sound of our wake-up alarms, but across Ukraine, a lot of nights are disturbed by the sounds of air raid alarms on their phones. We might not always adhere to them, but we set the time of our morning alarm.
But in Ukraine, Putin's barbarism dictates when the air raid alarms will go off and when Ukrainians are forced to suddenly wake up, for fear of their lives.
For years now, Ukrainian children, women and men have been denied a good night's sleep thanks to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified onslaught. I cannot pretend to understand the toll that it must have on any Ukrainian, or their family, but I remain awed by their determination to strive for a better future within the EU amid such toll.
President Michael D Higgins with deputy prime minister of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna at Áras An Uachtaráin in 2022. Picture: Maxwell's
During my visit to Kyiv in April, I met with the Ukrainian deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna. We met primarily to discuss the progression of Ukraine's path to EU membership. Only two nights before our meeting, the deputy prime minister had spent the night in an underground shelter with her children.
There was no guarantee Olha or her children would find their home intact when they came up from the shelter the next morning. But her children nevertheless returned to school and Olha returned to work.
Sandbags are stacked against the internal walls and against the windows of the government offices in Kyiv. At home, we use sandbags for flood defences, but in Ukraine, sandbags are used in defence against the Russian invaders.
Nevertheless, in those government offices, work on Ukraine's accession to the EU continues apace amid extraordinary challenges. I walked by offices filled with people getting on with their jobs, likely on little sleep given the air raids. Their resilience is inspiring, and we must never fail to recognise it.
I sometimes fear images of destruction, of flames emanating from built-up suburbs, of death itself, can become 'normal' viewing on our TV screens and phones.
But we must always remember the humanity of these situations and at its most basic human level, Ukraine has now gone without adequate sleep since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
So, what can we do? I had travelled to Ukraine in April along with my counterpart, the deputy foreign minister of Lithuania. Our visit began in Odesa where we opened an underground school shelter co-funded by Ireland, Lithuania and the European Commission.
Ireland has co-funded the construction of six such shelters across Ukraine. I am glad we are in a position to fund these shelters, because Ukraine's future is dependent on its young people realising their right to an education.
It is shameful, however, that such shelters are a necessity. Ukrainian children should not be receiving their education in underground bomb shelter classrooms without windows.
Ireland will continue to champion Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Against the backdrop of Putin's bombs and Putin's drones, along with other extraordinary challenges, Ukraine's government and parliament has persevered with EU-focused reforms.
In co-ordination with like-minded EU colleagues, I am examining proposals focused on ensuring Ukraine's negotiations for EU membership are not hindered by needless roadblocks. This is not only the right thing to do, but it is also in our fundamental interest to progress the enlargement of our shared union.
If Putin's imperialist ambitions are allowed to be realised in Ukraine, Ireland will not be immune from its consequences, and so we must work with our EU partners to ensure Ukraine's momentum towards EU membership is allowed to progress.
When night descends on Ukraine, let us endeavour to give hope to our fellow Europeans, for a brighter dawn within our European family of member states.
Thomas Byrne is minister of state for European Affairs and Defence and a Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
40 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump could meet Putin as soon as next week, White House official says
US President Donald Trump could meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week as he seeks to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, a White House official said. The official cautioned that a meeting has not been scheduled yet and no location has been determined. The official was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans. The White House said Mr Trump was also open to a meeting with both Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Trump would be their first since Mr Trump returned to office this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff shake hands during their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) It would be a significant milestone in the three-year-old war, though there is no promise such a meeting would lead to the end of the fighting since Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on their demands. News of a potential meeting with Mr Putin, which was first reported by The New York Times, came hours after Mr Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met Mr Putin in Moscow. Mr Trump had posted earlier on Truth Social that Mr Witkoff 'had a highly productive meeting' with Mr Putin in which 'great progress was made'. It was not immediately clear if Mr Putin or Mr Zelensky had agreed to any meetings with Mr Trump. Mr Zelensky has been willing to meet face-to-face with Mr Putin to end the conflict, but Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea. Mr Trump has met Mr Zelensky several times this year, including a contentious February meeting in Washington. Though he has not yet met Mr Putin this year, Mr Trump met with him five times during his first term. Mr Trump said earlier on Wednesday that he updated America's allies in Europe and that they will work toward an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'in the days and weeks to come'. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky.' Her statement did not address the potential timing of any meeting. Mr Witkoff met Mr Putin days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. The meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Witkoff lasted about three hours, the Kremlin said. Mr Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Mr Putin and Mr Witkoff had a 'useful and constructive conversation' that focused on the Ukrainian crisis and, in a nod toward improving relations between Washington and Moscow, 'prospects for possible development of strategic co-operation' between the United States and Russia.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Slovenia moves to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine
THE SLOVENIAN GOVERNMENT has moved towards banning the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. In a correspondence session, a remote discussion between ministries, the government instructed the ministries for the economy and the foreign affairs to prepare for the measure's formal proposal. 'A measure is proposed in the form of a ban on the import of goods originating from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including a ban on the circumvention of the ban on such imports,' a government statement read. The two ministries have also been tasked with examining a possible ban on the export of goods from Slovenia that are intended for Israeli settlements. 'The Government of the Republic of Slovenia will decide on further measures,' the statement added. In its statement today, the Slovenian government cited the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice from July of last year, which said that states are obliged not to conduct trade with Israeli settlements (colonies) because the occupation itself is illegal. There are more than 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. They live in settlements endorsed by the Israeli government and the most common exports are agricultural products. Advertisement A similar ban is currently progressing through the Oireachtas in Ireland that would ban the importation of goods from Israeli settlements, but in the pre-legislative stage, a committee recommended services also be included. Today's announcement follows Slovenia's imposition of a ban on arms sales to Israel. Slovenia is one of the European Union member states that has pushed ahead with unilateral actions against Israel in response to its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip in Palestine. As a bloc, the EU has failed to take concrete action to sanction Israel despite it being found to have violated the human rights clause in its trade agreement with the bloc. In explaining Friday's decision, Slovenia said it was in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza while denouncing the EU's inaction. Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Trump plans to meet with Putin as soon as next week
Trump then plans to meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the newspaper reported, adding that the plans were disclosed in a call with European leaders on Wednesday. Trump on Wednesday said his special envoy Steve Witkoff had made "great progress" in his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Washington continued its preparations to impose secondary sanctions on Friday. The meeting came two days before a deadline set by Trump for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or face new sanctions. Trump has been increasingly frustrated with Putin over the lack of progress towards peace and has threatened to impose heavy tariffs on countries that buy Russian exports. A White House official said that while the meeting had gone well and Moscow was eager to continue engaging with the United States, secondary sanctions that Trump has threatened against countries doing business with Russia were still expected to be implemented on Friday. No details were provided. "My Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Great progress was made!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come," he added. A Kremlin aide earlier on Wednesday said Witkoff held "useful and constructive" talks with Putin on Wednesday. The two met for around three hours on a last-minute mission to seek a breakthrough in the 3-1/2-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the two sides had exchanged "signals" on the Ukraine issue and discussed the possibility of developing strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington, but declined to give more details until Witkoff had reported back to Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he believed pressure had worked on Russia and Moscow was now more amenable to a ceasefire. "It seems that Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire. The pressure on them works. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details – neither us nor the U.S.," Zelenskiy said in his nightly address. Writing separately on the X social media platform, Zelenskiy said he had discussed Witkoff's visit to Russia with Trump, adding that he had reiterated Ukraine's support for a just peace and its continued determination to defend itself. "Ukraine will definitely defend its independence. We all need a lasting and reliable peace. Russia must end the war that it itself started," Zelenskiy said, adding that European leaders had joined the call with Trump. Trump on Truth Social said he had updated some of Washington's European allies following Witkoff's meeting. Trump took a key step toward punitive measures on Wednesday when he imposed an additional 25pc tariff on imports from India, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. No similar order was signed for China, which also imports Russian oil. The new measure raises tariffs on some Indian goods to as high as 50% — among the steepest faced by any U.S. trading partner. The Kremlin says threats to penalise countries that trade with Russia are illegal. It was not clear what Russia might have offered to Witkoff to stave off Trump's threat. Ushakov, who was present, told Russian news outlet Zvezda: "We had a very useful and constructive conversation." He added: "On our part, in particular on the Ukrainian issue, some signals were transmitted. Corresponding signals were also received from President Trump." Bloomberg and independent Russian news outlet The Bell reported that the Kremlin might propose a moratorium on airstrikes by Russia and Ukraine - an idea mentioned last week by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with Putin. Such a move, if agreed, would fall well short of the full and immediate ceasefire that Ukraine and the U.S. have been seeking for months. But it would offer some relief to both sides. Since the two sides resumed direct peace talks in May, Russia has carried out its heaviest air attacks of the war, killing at least 72 people in the capital Kyiv alone. Trump last week called the Russian attacks "disgusting." Ukraine continues to strike Russian refineries and oil depots, which it has hit many times. Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Russia had attacked a gas pumping station in southern Ukraine in what he called a deliberate and cynical blow to preparations for the winter heating season. Russia said it had hit gas infrastructure supplying the Ukrainian military. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Zelenskiy, said on Wednesday that a full ceasefire and a leaders' summit were required. "The war must stop and for now this is on Russia," he posted on Telegram. Putin is unlikely to bow to Trump's sanctions ultimatum because he believes he is winning the war and his military goals take precedence over his desire to improve relations with the U.S., three sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters. The Russian sources told Reuters that Putin was sceptical that yet more U.S. sanctions would have much of an impact after successive waves of economic penalties during 3-1/2 years of war. The Russian leader does not want to anger Trump, and he realises that he may be spurning a chance to improve relations with Washington and the West, but his war goals are more important to him, two of the sources said. Putin's conditions for peace include a legally binding pledge that NATO will not expand eastwards, Ukrainian neutrality, protection for Russian speakers, and acceptance of Russia's territorial gains in the war, Russian sources have said. Zelenskiy has said Ukraine would never recognise Russia's sovereignty over its conquered regions and that Kyiv retains the sovereign right to decide whether it wants to join NATO. Witkoff, a real estate billionaire, had no diplomatic experience before joining Trump's team in January, but has been simultaneously tasked with seeking ceasefires in the Ukraine and Gaza wars, as well as negotiating in the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.
