Sean Whelan

Washington Correspondent

US President Donald Trump said he wants Europe to pay more for its defence

Trump's anti-Ukraine antics traumatises European allies

On Monday it will be three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. During that time, only the Russians have made the kind of savage attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky that Donald Trump made during the past week.

Analysis and Comment • 22 Feb

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said it was very important to establish personal relations with the new US trade team

EU trade commissioner tries to head off US tariff threat

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has asked the US to delay the implementation of tariff rises on European exports to allow time for talks to reduce and even eliminate tariffs in key sectors of EU–US trade.

Europe • 20 Feb

The US has justified its meeting with Russia as marking the first step towards creating the conditions for a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine

US-Russia talks: A first step to end the war in Ukraine

Russia and the US have agreed to nominate negotiating teams to explore a peace deal for Ukraine but how much can really be done without Ukrainians at the negotiating table?

Analysis and Comment • 19 Feb

US President Donald Trump's peace plan essentially amounts to 'we are going to build a wall through Ukraine, and Europe's going to pay for it'

US Ukraine plan prompts questions on Irish resilience

How much of the Apple tax windfall should we spend on defence? This is a live question for the new Irish government - mostly because of the radical change to the security environment brought about by the Ukraine war.

Analysis and Comment • 16 Feb

US cars don't sell in Europe because they are too expensive due to VAT (stock pic)

How worried should Ireland be about Trump's tariff plan?

How worried should Ireland - and the rest of the EU - be about the "fair and reciprocal plan" for tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump?

Analysis and Comment • 14 Feb

US President Donald Trump has made a number of divisive moves at the beginning of his second term

Trump's third week sets eventful course for second term

Was there ever a time when the phrase "a week is a long time in politics" was more apt? The third week of the second Trump administration has been eventful, to say the least.

Analysis and Comment • 08 Feb

Donald Trump's justification for such radical action is that Gaza has been a failure for the people there

Breathtaking a gross understatement for Trump's Gaza plan

To call it breathtaking is a gross understatement.

Analysis and Comment • 05 Feb

The mid-air crash happened in the early hours of the morning

Answer behind DC air crash may come sooner than usual

Correspondent Sean Whelan reports that given where the Washington DC air crash happened, the involvement of the military, the proximity to the Pentagon and the White House and its current resident, the answer as to why the crash happened may come sooner than usual.

Analysis and Comment • 30 Jan

Donald Trump said he wants Saudi Arabia to bring down the price of oil on the world market through OPEC, pumping more supply to lower prices

'Flooding the zone' - Donald Trump's first week in office

You have to draw the line somewhere. And for me the line is the first five days. I mean, how is anyone supposed to keep up with the torrent of news coming out of Trump White House?

US • 26 Jan

Donald Trump - the first week

You have to draw the line somewhere. And for me the line is the first five days. I mean, how is anyone supposed to keep up with the torrent of news coming out of Trump White House?

US • 26 Jan