Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
60. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the steps Ireland is taking as a member of the United Nations Security Council to address rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3765/22]
View answerIreland has consistently made clear its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has supported Ukraine in a range of international fora in this regard. Along with our EU partners, Ireland has called on Russia to de-escalate the tensions caused by its protracted military build-up. The build-up of Russian troops near its border with Ukraine is a significant cause for concern to us.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres on 21 January called on the international community to avoid a confrontation and to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution of the problem. Ireland has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine at United Nations Security Council meetings on Ukraine, including at Arria formula meetings.
We have also stressed our non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, encouraged full, secure and unimpeded access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, and called for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
We co-sponsored the Arria formula meeting on Crimea organised by Estonia and Ukraine in March 2021, which also focused on the worrying human rights situation on the peninsula. We were also pleased to once again co-sponsor the General Assembly Resolution on the demilitarisation of Crimea, and we joined the EU statement on 9 December, as we have done in previous years.
