Paul Murphy
Question:411. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current situation in eastern Ukraine; and if he supports military assistance to the Ukrainian Government. [6747/15]
View answerTuesday, 17 February 2015
Questions (411)
Written answers
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has escalated rapidly in recent weeks. The upsurge in violence and the increasing number of casualties, in particular innocent civilians caught up in the fighting, has been deeply troubling.
I welcome the agreement reached in Minsk on 12 February, following all-night talks involving Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, President Poroshenko and President Putin. The package of measures signed by the parties to the conflict offers hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, which has claimed over 5,300 lives and forced almost a million people to flee their homes. The agreement provides for a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons in eastern Ukraine. It also provides a timetable for the implementation of key parts of the September Minsk Agreements, including those relating to elections, border control and prisoner exchange.
It is vital that the ceasefire is respected and that the parties to the agreement take immediate, concrete steps to implement the provisions of the Minsk Agreement. It is deeds not words that will provide assurance that all sides are genuinely committed to ending the fighting and restoring peace in eastern Ukraine.
At the informal European Council held on 12 February, Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande briefed EU leaders on the outcome of the Minsk talks. President Poroshenko also addressed the meeting and provided a realistic assessment of what was agreed. Leaders assured President Poroshenko of the EU's full backing for his efforts to restore peace and to maintain Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also considered practical ways of supporting implementation of the agreement, including through further humanitarian assistance and strengthening of the OSCE Mission.
Unity and consistency has characterised the EU's actions in response of the Ukrainian crisis to date. It is crucial that this unity is maintained as it is key to our influence and our effectiveness.
We have consistently stated that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Ukraine. The initiative undertaken by Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande's was aimed at reviving the September Minsk Agreements and bringing an end to the current spiral of violence. Providing lethal military equipment to Ukraine risks undermining these and other diplomatic efforts to find a political resolution to the crisis.