The Minister for Higher Education has confirmed that Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a special address to Irish students in October.
Simon Harris revealed today that Zelenskyy will speak to Ireland’s third-level students after making similar addresses in the UK and US.
As well as speaking to them, the Ukrainian president will also take questions from Irish students.
READ MORE: What does Putin's latest address mean for Ireland and Europe? All you need to know from Russia
Speaking about the importance of the address, Mr Harris said that young people nationwide will get to hear directly from a president that is coping with a devastating invasion while also standing up for "democracy, freedom, and European value."
Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show on Friday, Minister Harris said: “I have been working very closely with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland and trying to work through a load of issues in relation to education, English language, and the likes and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland did indicate to me that President Zelenskyy would like to address all third level students in Ireland.
“This is something the Ukrainian President has done in the UK, he has done it in a number of universities in the US so we are organising for President Zelenskyy to virtually address all our college students and all campuses in the month of October.
“President Zelenskyy has also very kindly agreed to take questions from students.”
He went on to say that “it’s so important that the next generation hear directly from the president of a country that is experiencing an illegal invasion but also a president that is standing up for democracy, freedom and European values.
“I am delighted that we would facilitate in the third-level sector President Zelenskyy addressing our student next month.”
Meanwhile, seven months into the violent invasion of Ukraine, tensions remain high and it seems Vladimir Putin has decided to double down.
The Russian President issued a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, in which he accused the West of 'nuclear blackmail' and took aim at Washington, London, and Berlin.
He also claimed that Russia had more modern weapons compared to other NATO countries, and said he was not afraid to use them to protect the Russian people from attack.
One of Putin's close advisors, Sergei Markov, told BBC Radio Four earlier this week that Mr. Putin is "ready" to use his arsenal against those in the West.
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