Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee, has described the feedback from high-level talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine as 'extremely positive'.
The comments were made as US and Ukrainian officials convened in Switzerland to discuss a United States proposal for peace, with both sides reporting progress, albeit while providing few concrete details.
Positive Momentum in Geneva
While arriving for a meeting of European Union ministers in Brussels on Monday 24 November 2025, Minister McEntee welcomed the ongoing discussions. 'I think the reports from all sides were extremely positive,' she stated, acknowledging the significance of the diplomatic engagement.
She tempered the optimism with a note of caution, adding, 'It's very clear, obviously there's further work that needs to be done.' McEntee expressed hope that the positive discussions would continue throughout the week.
Her sentiments were echoed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Sunday characterised the high-stakes talks in Geneva as 'very worthwhile'.
EU Coordination and Irish Trade Priorities
The diplomatic efforts on Ukraine will be a key topic at the EU foreign affairs ministers meeting on Wednesday morning, where McEntee looks forward to further discussions with colleagues.
Separately, on Monday, the minister's agenda also focused on trade. McEntee and other EU trade ministers were scheduled to meet with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss tariffs.
Minister McEntee identified a clear 'space to make further progress' in this area. She confirmed that Ireland would be pushing aggressively for reduced tariffs to protect key domestic industries.
'Ireland will be working hard and will be making the case, as I will be today, to make sure that medtech is very much part of that, to make sure that our whiskey industry and our agri-food industry is part of that as well,' she affirmed.
The Path Forward
While the initial reports from the peace negotiations are encouraging, all parties involved recognise that a complex and difficult path lies ahead. The combination of diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and parallel discussions on vital economic interests highlights the multifaceted nature of international relations.
The world will be watching closely as these talks continue, hoping the 'extremely positive' start translates into a lasting and just resolution to the conflict.
