Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has brushed off US President Joe Biden's gaffe in which he mistakenly introduced him as 'President Putin' as he held talks with Taoiseach Simon Harris during a stopover at Shannon Airport.
The Taoiseach said he will visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the "coming weeks".
Mr Harris made the remarks following the bilateral meeting with President Zelensky and invited him to conduct an official visit to Ireland and added that the Ukrainian president was "very eager" to address the Dáil.
President Zelensky arriving at Shannon Airport @rtenews pic.twitter.com/PbrWtYB4Hc
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Speaking at a press conference, Mr Harris said the two leaders discussed a potential bilateral agreement on demining, energy, humanitarian assistance and food security.
"I've just had a very good meeting with President Zelensky. I'm very pleased to welcome him to Ireland."
He added: "I took the opportunity to expresses condolences on behalf of the people of Ireland to the people of Ukraine, to the president of Ukraine, for all the loss of civilian life throughout this brutal illegal war of Russian aggression."
Mr Harris said that when he does visit Ukraine, he hopes that progress will have been made on a bilateral agreement between the two countries on areas of co-operation.
These include de-mining, humanitarian aid, food security, and help with electricity supply infrastructure.
He also affirmed Ireland's support for attempts to return thousands of abducted children to Ukraine, after they were forcibly removed to Russia and Belarus.
"Russia is stealing children from Ukraine," he said.
Ireland has joined an international coalition to help with the campaign to return those children.
He said in relation to the war itself that while Ireland is militarily neutral, "we are not in any way neutral in terms of recognising right and wrong and evil and good".
Asked by reporters for his message to Ireland, Mr Zelensky said: "First of all, thank you so much for your support, thanks to Ireland for hosting a lot of Ukrainian refugees, you were with us from the very beginning of the Russian invasion."
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Mr Zelensky was also asked about US President Joe Biden mistakenly referring to him as "President Putin".
He replied: "It's a mistake. I think United States gave a lot of support for Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think so."
The Taoiseach said Mr Biden's reference to Mr Zelensky was not discussed during today's meeting.
"I've a great fondness for President Biden," Mr Harris said, adding that he spoke to the president two or three weeks ago.
"Throughout our conversation I found President Biden to be as engaging and informed and as passionate about Ireland as I've ever found him."
He added that it was not his place to give views on United States politics.
While discussing the future of the conflict during the bilateral, Mr Harris expressed his condolences for the citizens whom Ukraine has lost in the war including the bombing of Ukraine's largest children's hospital earlier this week.
Mr Zelensky signed the Shannon Airport visitors' book before his meeting with the Taoiseach.
Mr Zelensky was in the US earlier this week attending events to mark the 75th anniversary of the foundation of NATO and has stopped over in Shannon Airport on his way home.
Ireland has provided €250 million in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility and the country has welcomed over 108,000 Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
Irish Defence Forces members have trained 455 Ukrainian personnel in demining, battlefield casualty care and the use of non-lethal mine clearance equipment.
Additional reporting PA
