Ukrainian president Zelensky holds 'unscheduled' meeting at Irish airport

The president of Ukraine has confirmed he held an "unscheduled" meeting at an Irish airport earlier today (September 23). 

President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly met with the President of Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at Shannon Airport in Co Clare. 

Posting about the encounter with a photo on X (formerly Twitter), he said, "I am grateful for Sudan's consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We discussed common security challenges, namely the activities of illegal armed groups financed by Russia. I invited him to support the Grain From Ukraine initiative and take part in this year's summit.

"We considered possible platforms for intensifying cooperation between Ukraine and African countries." 

The Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, was also in attendance and can be seen seated to President Zelensky's right. 

Both Fattah al-Burhan and President Zelensky recently addressed the UN General Assembly in New York.