Ireland urges Ukraine's early admission to EU

The Irish government supports Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union and hopes for its early admission to the community.

The statement came from Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Defence Minister Micheál Martin, TASS reports.

"I look forward to seeing Ukraine living in peace and realising its desire to become a reliable member state of the European Union," he said, speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington.

Martin noted that Dublin is interested in the fastest possible procedure for Ukraine's accession to the EU.

He also expressed hope for the preservation of the "rules-based international order", which is supported by Irish diplomacy. When asked about Ireland's accession to NATO, he replied that the republic is already participating in a number of peacekeeping missions together with the member countries of the alliance and the European Union.