Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny paid tribute to the bravery of the Ukrainian people as they withstand the brutal invasion from Russia.
Ukraine has been under siege for more than three weeks after Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a military assault against the independent nation.
Ireland had been due to play Ukraine home and away in their UEFA Nations League group in the first two weeks of June.
Those games look certain to be deferred as Ukraine look to reschedule their World Cup play-off against Scotland due to the ongoing Russian invasion.
The FAI have made clear they will make all allowances to ensure Ukraine can play their World Cup games.
And Ireland boss Kenny, who expressed his egalitarian views in programmes for Dundalk and Ireland, has joined the left-wing consensus in condemning the invasion.
“We were supposed to play in the Aviva in June and in Kiev, and then it was moved to Lviv,” he told Ryan Tubridy on the Late Late Show.
“When will it happen or will it ever happen, it pales into insignificance in relation to what’s happened. It’s such a huge tragedy in front of our own eyes.
“Ukrainian people, they’ve been incredibly brave. The dream is we play Ukraine and they’re an independent state, that they come through this.
“Imagine the possibility of playing it in Dublin with the Ukrainian people coming here and the reception they would get in Ireland, or in Ukraine.
“It’s obviously such a tragic situation and we don’t know how it will go. It’s heartbreaking to watch and to see it.
“Their lives have been torn apart and their country’s been torn apart, and it’s incredible really [the bravery they’ve shown].”
