Ireland has pledged to ensure that alumina produced at the Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina refinery is not used to support Russia’s military, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to sanction the facility during his visit to Dublin.
Speaking at a joint press conference on Wednesday following bilateral talks with Zelenskyy, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the government’s investigation into Aughinish Alumina’s potential involvement in supplying material for Russian weapons production was nearing completion.
“We do not want to be in a position where material emanating from a plant in Ireland goes to support the Russian war machine,” Martin said. He added that the investigation would conclude soon, after which Ireland would discuss the findings with the European Commission.
Zelenskyy welcomed the probe but called for a faster conclusion, saying he hoped the investigation would be completed in less than a month.
“Every tonne of raw material that ends up in Russia is used against us in this war. We hope we won’t have to wait for a month,” he said.
Earlier in the day, speaking at the opening ceremony of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the European Union at Dublin Castle, Zelenskyy thanked the bloc for its continued support but called for additional sanctions targeting Russia.