Biden to discuss Ukraine, Covid and climate with Taoiseach

US president Joe Biden is to discuss Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change when he meets Taoiseach Micheál Martin this week, the White House has said.

The White House announced on Sunday that Mr Biden and Mr Martin would also "discuss their continued support for the Good Friday agreement".

The Taoiseach is scheduled to travel to Washington, DC, on Monday for a series of engagements ahead of talks with the US president in the White House on St Patrick’s Day.

The White House said on Sunday that Mr Biden would hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Martin and receive a presentation of shamrock on March 17th, “continuing a longstanding St Patrick’s Day tradition”.

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"The leaders will reaffirm the close and historic partnership between the United States and Ireland and the extraordinary bonds between our people. They will discuss their countries' contributions to the international effort to support the people of Ukraine and to impose costs on Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified war.

"They will also talk about a range of global issues and shared priorities, including combatting the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide, strengthening global health security, tackling the climate crisis, and working together on the United Nations Security Council. "

US vice president Kamala Harris will host the Taoiseach for a breakfast at the Naval Observatory in Washington on St Patrick's Day.

The Taoiseach is also scheduled to attend the traditional St Patrick's Day lunch with the Friends of Ireland caucus of politicians on Capitol Hill which will be hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.