Russia Ukraine war latest: Zelensky plays down Biden’s Putin gaffe as Poland considers downing Russian missiles
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has played down his US counterpart Joe Biden’s gaffe during the Nato summit as a mere “mistake” after arriving in Ireland.
Mr Biden accidentally introduced the Ukrainian leader as “president Putin” during the final day of the Nato summit before quickly correcting himself. At the time, Mr Zelensky responded: “I am better.”
Speaking to reporters from Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Mr Zelensky described the gaffe as a simple “mistake”.
“ I think the United States gave a lot of support to Ukrainians,” he said. “We can forget some mistakes, I think so.”
He was later pictured embracing Irish taoiseach Simon Harris as the pair held a meeting inside the airport.
It comes as Poland said it was considering Kyiv’s proposal to shoot down Russian missiles flying towards Polish territory while they are still in Ukraine’s airspace.
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the American Enterprise Institute in Washington that they were considering such a move but only with the approval of Nato.
Warsaw, an alliance member, frequently scrambles fighter jets to protect Polish airspace as Russian forces launch large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine.
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We have another photo from Zelensky’s visit to Ireland
Below, you can see Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaking with Irish taoiseach Simon Harris in Shannon Airport.
To Mr Zelensky’s left is Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defence minister, and on the far end of the table is the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko.
Tom Watling13 July 2024 17:00
Two killed in Russian shelling of southern Ukraine
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Two others were wounded in the attack close to the regional capital, said Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of the partly occupied Kherson region.
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Watch: Zelensky responds to Biden’s ‘president Putin’ gaffe
Watch: Zelensky responds to Biden’s ‘president Putin’ gaffe
Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to Joe Biden referring to him as “President Putin” while speaking to reporters about Nato’s support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president addressed the gaffe for the first time as he posed for photos with Irish premier Simon Harris on Saturday, 13 July. “It’s a mistake. I think United States gave a lot of support for Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think so,” Mr Zelensky told reporters. Saturday was Mr Zelensky and Mr Harris’s first bilateral meeting on Irish soil and was focused on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Tom Watling13 July 2024 15:15
Poland considering Kyiv proposal to help down Russian missiles in Ukrainian airspace
Poland is considering a proposal from Kyiv to shoot down Russian missiles flying towards Polish territory while they are still in Ukraine’s airspace.
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the American Enterprise Institute in Washington that they were considering such a move but only with the approval of Nato.
Warsaw, an alliance member, frequently scrambles fighter jets to protect Polish airspace as Russian forces launch large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine.
“At this stage, this is an idea. What our agreement said is we will explore this idea,” Mr Sikorski said, calling the potential move self-defence.
Last year, a Russian missile entered Polish airspace, putting the country’s defenses on high alert. In another incident on Nov. 15, 2022, a missile flew onto Polish territory during a Russian mass attack, killing two civilians. Polish investigators later concluded that it was a stray Ukrainian anti-air projectile launched to intercept the Russian attack.
Tom Watling13 July 2024 14:45
Zelensky responds to Biden gaffe
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to US president Joe Biden calling him “Putin” during the Nato summit.
After arriving in Ireland, Mr Zelensky was asked to speak about the gaffe for the first time since it happened on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters from Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Mr Zelensky described the gaffe as a simple “mistake”.
“ I think the United States gave a lot of support to Ukrainians,” he said. “We can forget some mistakes, I think so.”
Tom Watling13 July 2024 14:37
Some background on Ireland’s relationship with Ukraine
Below we have some background on Ireland’s relationship with Ukraine as president Volodymyr Zelensky holds talks with taoiseach Simon Harris.
Ireland’s ability to support Ukraine militarily is limited but their armed forces have trained 455 Ukrainian personnel in demining, battlefield casualty care and the use of non-lethal mine clearance equipment.
The country has also provided €250 million (£210m) in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, while they have welcomed over 108,000 Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
The two leaders have met before, speaking last month on the sidelines of the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Ireland is also a member of Ukraine’s International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children (ICRUC), co-chaired by Labour Baroness Helena Kennedy, which focuses on how to return the roughly 19,000 children forcibly deported by Russia to the occupied territories and mainland Russia.
Tom Watling13 July 2024 14:15