UKRAINIAN president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan at Shannon Airport, according to posts on social media on Saturday.
Mr Zelensky had been returning to Ukraine following a visit to Canada and the US, where he had addressed the United Nations General Assembly. The Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko was also at Saturday’s meeting.
In a post on Twitter the Ukrainian leader wrote, “At Shannon Airport I held an unscheduled meeting with President of the Transitional Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
“I am grateful for Sudan’s consistent support of Ukraine’s soverignity and territorial integrity.
“We discussed common security challenges, namely the activities of illegal armed groups financed by Russia.
“I invited him to support the Grain From Ukraine initiative and take part in this year’s summit.
“We considered possible platforms for intensifying co-operation between Ukraine and African countries.”
As well as playing an important role in the Russian war effort against Ukraine, the Wagner group have also been active in Sudan.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.