Ukraine's Zelenskiy meets Irish PM on way to Trump visit

SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin during a brief stop off in Ireland on Thursday on his way to a key meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Trump has said Zelenskiy would visit Washington on Friday to sign an agreement on rare earth minerals, while the Ukrainian leader said the success of the deal would hinge on those talks and continued U.S. aid.

Zelenskiy thanked both Martin for his support and the Irish people for the shelter they have provided Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion in 2022 in brief remarks while the pair met at Shannon airport, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported.

Martin said the leaders had a "warm" meeting during which they discussed French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Washington this week and the need for Europe to be "centrally involved" in any peace settlement.

"I think he has a very clear focus, he's very clear in his own head in terms of where he wants to take this and he wants to engage, obviously, particularly with President Trump. He values very much the support he has received from the United States, a very strong partner to Ukraine," Martin told reporters.

"Suffice to say that President Zelenskiy is very focused on the need for Europe to be centrally involved in the wider potential peace settlement that could unfold in the time ahead," Martin added.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin, editing by William James)

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