Mr. Oleksandr Merezhko:

The good news is that the electricity has come back while we were talking to the committee. When we have electricity back the first thing we do is try to recharge our smartphones. It is good news that the power is back. I think it is also a result of our friendly conversation and a good sign. Ireland is one of my favourite countries. I have never been there but I know its literature. I cannot explain what it is when I meet Irish people but there is a term, "like-minded people". We understand each other perfectly. Sometimes there is no need even for words for us to understand each other. I do not know how to explain it. Maybe there are some parallels in our history, culture or mentality but I view Irish people as our true friends.

I understand that Ireland is not a superpower which can provide us with all the weaponry we need and so on, but I see that it is wholeheartedly doing everything it can for us. We value that very highly and we view Ireland and its people as our true friends. Ireland is a superpower with regard to culture and in political terms because it has a very strong influence in the United States. I am not ashamed to ask Ireland to use its influence in the United States to help Ukraine because Ireland's diaspora is highly respected. One of my colleagues, a congressman, has an Irish last name and I was surprised when he said he was Irish. It means Ireland has influence. I ask that it try to support us in this way.