Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has praised a picture of Ukraine President Zelensky meeting Ursula Von Der Leyen as Europe continues to unite behind the country.
The President of the EU commission met with the leader of the country fighting off Russia's attack and said they will accelerate Ukraine's process of joining the union.
Ursula Von Der Leyen tweeted: "Ukraine belongs in the European family. And today, Ukraine takes another important step towards EU membership. We will accelerate this process as much as we can, while ensuring that all conditions are respected."
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Sharing the same image, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: "This is an incredible picture. Four wks ago, many thought Zelensky would be toppled. Today he is a statesman receiving the President of the Commission, who breaking with convention provided military, political, humanitarian & financial aid to save Ukraine. Putin has United Europe."
It comes as Vladimir Putin has been seen arriving at a funeral in Moscow with a military officer carrying what was suspected to be the Russian nuclear briefcase.
The cathedral was then cleared of mourners due to fears of assassination attempts on the warmongering Russian President.
Mourners at Christ the Saviour Cathedral were removed as Putin paid his respects at the open coffin to the far-right, firebrand ultranationalist politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
A man in a suit was also seen close to Putin evidently carrying the Russian nuclear briefcase.
The visible presence of a top military officer dressed in civilian clothes carrying the launch apparatus for the Kremlin’s strategic missiles is chilling at a time of fears that Putin could deploy his atomic weapons.
The scenes indicate a deep concern by Putin of assassination amid the bloody war with Ukraine, and a lack of trust even in his political supporters who were seen crowded into the cathedral at other moments in the mourning ceremony.
There is thought to be a lack of trust amongst Putin's own political supporters who were seen in the cathedral during other moments in the ceremony.
When President Putin paid his respects to Vladimir Zhirinovsky, there were also no armed guards standing at the coffin.
The scenes may also reflect fears he could catch Covid - a longtime worry amid informed speculation that he is suffering from thyroid cancer.
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