Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU to sanction Ireland’s Aughinish Alumina plant, citing its Russian ownership and potential support for Moscow’s war effort. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin pledged that metal from the facility, owned by Rusal, would not fuel the conflict. An investigation into Aughinish’s operations and potential links to weapons production is nearing completion.

Dublin has previously shielded Aughinish from EU-wide sanctions, but an EU diplomat noted that even a 51% export rate to Russia, as claimed by Rusal, is substantial given ongoing attacks on Ukraine. Russian customs data shows Rusal’s Krasnoyarsk plant as a primary recipient of the alumina, the raw material for aluminum production.

Zelenskyy, speaking in Dublin, pressed for a swift conclusion to the investigation, stating that "every tonne of raw material that ends up in Russia is used against us." He called for new sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet and industries supporting its war machine, including European companies effectively controlled by Russia or its sanctioned oligarchs.

Sanctioning Aughinish presents a complex decision for Ireland, currently holding the EU presidency, as it could disrupt business operations. The government is awaiting the investigation's findings to determine its next steps regarding the facility, which is Europe’s largest alumina smelter.