The government is “not at the point yet” in determining whether Irish peacekeepers would have a role in Ukraine, according to the Tánaiste, reports RTE.
Irish peacekeeping regulations are extremely clear, according to Simon Harris, who made this statement before this morning’s Cabinet meeting. The Oireachtas, the government, and the UN are all involved in the process.
“Our Defence Forces have a very proud tradition of playing majorly important peacekeeping roles in very troubled and challenging parts of the globe … But we’re not at that moment yet,” the Minister for Defence said, reports RTE.
“While lots of people are talking about bringing peace to Ukraine, we’re still seeing [Vladimir] Putin engage in acts of aggression and acts of sabotage on a daily basis on Ukraine … so the most important thing right now is to stop the war, but to stop the war in a way that is consistent with the UN charter, with the territorial independence of Ukraine,” he added, reports RTE.
In order to receive a briefing from Ursula von der Leyden, president of the European Commission, Mr. Harris will also participate in a virtual meeting of the European People’s Party.
It comes after she discussed the conflict in Ukraine and Europe’s involvement in peace negotiations with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday in Paris, reports RTE.
Following US President Donald Trump’s arrangement of bilateral peace talks with Russia, which excluded Ukraine and European allies from the ongoing battle in Saudi Arabia, the Paris meeting was called.
Mr Harris said: “The Irish Government’s position remains consistent, there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nor can there be anything about Europe or European security without Europe in the room as well. Everybody wants to see peace and everyone wants to see an end to the war but how that peace is brought about matters – respecting people’s territorial integrity, the sovereignty of a country and indeed the UN charter is crucially important,” reports RTE.
Regarding Ukraine, the Taoiseach has stated that Europe “will have to be” at peace negotiations.
“A peace agreement will not work without European participation at some degree,” Micheál Martin said when arriving to the Cabinet meeting, reports RTE.
“The fundamental point in any peace deal is that it has to be sustainable, and has to be durable. For that to happen, there has to be very significant security guarantees to Ukraine,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr. Harris will explain to the Cabinet how he plans to guarantee that Ukraine may get €50 million in non-lethal military assistance in spite of a Hungarian veto at the EU level.
He will describe how Ireland is unable to execute its pledges to give Ukraine €250 million in non-lethal military help because Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is blocking an EU Ukraine Assistance Fund, reports RTE.
The Cabinet will be informed that Mr. Harris would forward a proposal early next month to authorise up to €50 million in aid for Ukraine under what is known as the European Peace Facility mechanism.
On Monday, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he will also inform the Cabinet that a strong declaration of support is required.
Ireland has welcomed 110,000 displaced Ukrainian nationals and provided more than €130 million in stabilisation and humanitarian help since the start of the conflict, reports RTE.
Additionally, the Tánaiste said that he will update the Cabinet on Ireland’s involvement in the G20 in South Africa this week.
“This is the first time Ireland has been invited as a guest nation in the history of the G20,” he remarked, reports RTE.
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