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Killarney residents meet Ukrainian President during Ireland visit
Two Killarney residents were among a small group of Ukrainians invited to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky during his official visit to Ireland this week.
NEWKD community worker Natalia Krasnekova and former St Brendan’s College student and current UCC student Stepan Krykun attended the meeting, which was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine and brought together around 40 Ukrainians from across the country.
President Zelensky and the First Lady chose an open conversation format, with attendees asking questions and raising issues about life in Ireland and the ongoing war. Natalia said it was “an inspiring and warm meeting” that gave Ukrainians who left home due to the war a sense of connection and support.
Stepan asked the President what Irish young people should know about Ukraine.
President Zelensky said Irish people already understood Ukraine’s resilience and compared the country’s struggle to Ireland’s own fight for independence.
Natalia also briefly spoke with First Lady Olena Zelenska about the rollout of Ukrainian book collections into Irish libraries.
Shelves have already been introduced in Tralee and Dingle through NEWKD's Ukrainian team.
The Embassy also invited Robert Carey of NEWKD and Michael Hall of MTU to attend President Zelensky’s address to the Dail.
