Wreaths of flowers win no wars. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy would prefer money to buy desperately needed air defence missiles and to hear news of tough EU sanctions biting Russia’s wartime economy. Taoiseach Micheál Martin made what has become a well-trodden journey into Kyiv for visiting leaders, travelling through the night on a train from Poland, to meet Zelenskiy.There was a wreath laid at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine. “You look at all those young faces on the wall, all killed. It’s horrific. So we have to be always conscious of what the people of Ukraine are suffering,” Martin told reporters.The Taoiseach announced the Government had found an extra €125 million to give to Ukraine, to be put towards “non-lethal” military purposes and air defences.[ Taoiseach: Government may explore ‘other approaches’ to ensure alumina not reaching RussiaOpens in new window ]Zelenskiy is thankful for every euro or dollar he can get in what has become a grinding war of attrition. Ukraine’s need is measured in billions rather than millions, though. The faint sound of an air raid siren could be heard in the distance when Zelenskiy and the Taoiseach sat down across from each other in the Mariinskiy Palace, the president’s official residence. “Critical: Proceed to shelter”, read the alert that flashed across the mobile phones of civilians elsewhere in the capital. The warnings have become a feature of ordinary life in a conflict that has gone on longer than the first World War.Ukrainians are bracing themselves for what could be a very tough winter. Frustrated by the stagnating frontline in the east, Russia is launching more and more ballistic missiles at Kyiv and other cities. Those missiles move so quickly they often hit their target before the air riad siren has even sounded. How does it all end? US president Donald Trump is 550 days into a second term that he boasted would see the war in Ukraine ended “within 24 hours”. There is some indication that US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow could resume, after months of silence. Washington has been preoccupied with the war it started in Iran and the resulting shock to energy markets. “The Americans are focusing on Iran,” Zelenskiy said in a press conference on Thursday. [ EU presidency may expose hypocrisy at heart of Ireland on everything from Ukraine to defenceOpens in new window ]However, the Ukrainian president revealed he had been in contact with the Trump administration this week, to talk about talks. US interlocutors should be in touch with the Kremlin shortly as well, he suggested. The trajectory of the peace negotiations – should they resume – are impossible to predict and there’s been plenty of false starts before. Negotiations or no negotiations, Zelenskiy and his officials are gearing up for what they expect will be a rough winter dominated by power blackouts and missile strikes, where again they will need all the help they can get from their European allies.