Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3930/22]
View answer47. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that have taken place at European Union level with regard to the situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3695/22]
View answer70. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that the Government is taking at European Union level to bring a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 47 and 70 together.
Ireland is a strong and consistent supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemns Russian violations of Ukrainian sovereignty. The build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine is a matter of great concern. It is important that dialogue be maintained, with the primary goal of de-escalating tensions in the region. In this regard, I welcome the intensive diplomatic efforts which have occurred in recent weeks, aimed at defusing tensions. These include bilateral discussions between the US and Russia, between NATO and Russia, and at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. As a participating State in the OSCE, Ireland is pleased to express solidarity with Ukraine and seek a peaceful de-escalation of tensions in that forum.
Over the course of the last year, the EU has dedicated significant time to the situation in Ukraine, not least at the Foreign Affairs Council. The EU has been and will remain united in extending solidarity to Ukraine and condemning Russian aggression. I commend Ukraine it on its resilience and restraint in the face of continued Russian aggression. The latest build-up of troops near Ukraine has caused a sustained period of heightened tension over recent weeks and months. This has been exacerbated by Russia's security proposals which attempt to impinge on Ukraine's sovereign right as a nation to decide its own defence and external association policy.
I and my fellow EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation again on Monday of this week at the Foreign Affairs Council of 24 January. That discussion built on our detailed exchange at the informal Foreign Ministers meeting in Brest on 13 and 14 January hosted by the French Presidency. In my own remarks, I have consistently underlined the need for strong and unified messaging from the EU.
EU leaders including the Taoiseach, at the European Council in December, clearly stated that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. This has been reinforced in the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions of 24 January, which state that preparatory work has accelerated on restrictive measures in case of further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
EU Foreign Ministers on Monday continued to emphasise the need for de-escalation and the prevention of further conflict in Ukraine. This is the outcome we want to see. Too many lives have already been lost in the conflict in Ukraine and we must always keep open the path of dialogue. This is why we and our EU partners view the Minsk Agreements as so important. Their full implementation remains the best avenue to achieve peace in Ukraine. The OSCE as a platform for regional security has also featured heavily in our recent discussions. The OSCE is the body that brings all parties in the region to the table and I am in favour of the EU continuing to invest significant effort there.
However, I and my counterparts also acknowledged that the EU must be willing to meet unacceptable behaviour from Russia with consequences. We cannot continue to do business with Russia as normal if it perpetrates further military aggression against Ukraine. This is why we have agreed to signal that preparatory work on restrictive measures has accelerated. We hope that this work won't be needed. We hope it won't come to that. But we need to be prepared to use the leverage we have in the interests of peace and security on the continent.
EU Foreign Ministers have also engaged with Ukraine directly, to ensure that its voice is heard and that we understand its perspective. This includes engagements with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. I discussed these matters in person with Minister Kuleba when I travelled to Kyiv on 23 August to represent Ireland at the International Crimea Platform, a diplomatic initiative by Ukraine to seek a peaceful end to the illegal Russian occupation of the peninsula.
