A planned face-to-face meeting at the White House between President Joe Biden and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on St. Patrick's Day turned virtual after the Irish leader tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday night.

Biden instead met with Ireland's taoiseach from the Oval Office by video call, lamenting that it was the second year the pair had met virtually to mark the holiday.

The crisis in Ukraine took center stage as it has during several White House events over the last few weeks, with Biden commending Ireland's condemnation of Russia's attacks and highlighting unity among Western countries.

"We're meeting at a moment when demands on unity in the world are really accelerating. We have to be united and we certainly are," Biden said. "Putin's brutality and what he's doing and his troops are doing Ukraine is just inhumane."

The taoiseach called the fact that the two were meeting virtually "unfortunate," a sentiment Biden echoed, saying he was "really deeply sorry for the inconvenience that we have to meet virtually again this year." 

"Last year, we met virtually across the Atlantic. This year, we're meeting virtually across the road. So we're getting closer," Martin joked.

"I'm feeling good. And I think that reminds us of the importance of vaccines," he added.

Martin called the war in Ukraine a "barbaric attack" on civilians and an "unjustifiable and immoral war."

"I share with you our horror at barbaric attacks on civilians in Ukraine, and I want to take this opportunity to genuinely salute your leadership that is firm, determined, strong and measured ... and particularly your capacity to marshal like-minded democracies," Martin said. "The U.S, the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and other likeminded democracies are coming together to respond in an unprecedented way to this barbaric attack on the women and children of Ukraine and the young people who are dying in this unjustified and immoral war"

"Ireland stands ready to do everything we possibly can on the humanitarian front and in supporting the broadest and widest sanctions possible to keep the pressure on and to get this war ended, because there's simply too much suffering," he added.

Biden praised Ireland for their work to take in Ukrainian refugees, and the two leaders were also set to discuss coordination on issues like COVID-19 and climate change.

"What Ireland is doing now, what you are doing, taking in Ukrainian refugees, speaks so loudly about your principles, and it's amazing," he said. "I want to publicly compliment you. I think you've already brought in over 7,000 refugees from Ukraine, and you're prepared to do more, so thank you."

Martin was attending the Ireland Funds 30th National Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington when he tested positive. Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were among the U.S. leaders also at the event, according to a senior administration official.

Biden, who spoke briefly at the event, was not deemed a close contact of Martin, White House spokesman Chris Meagher said. The COVID-19 close call came a day after second gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive for the virus.

In addition to the meeting with Biden Thursday, Martin and the president had been scheduled to speak at a Friends of Ireland Luncheon hosted by Pelosi at the Capitol, before the Irish prime minister and his wife, Mary, were to be the guests of honor at a shamrock presentation at the White House. 

A revised schedule from the White House no longer includes Martin’s name for the Capitol luncheon and now simply says Biden and first lady Jill Biden will “host a St. Patrick’s Day event” later in the day.