(Image source: RTE)
The Irish government’s concerns have been put to rest as the Russian ambassador has rushed to reassure them that planned naval exercises due to take place off the southwest Irish coast post no threat to Ireland.
According to the Irish Times, Yury Filatov was speaking at a press conference in the Russian embassy. He reminded those in attendance that these kinds of naval exercises and training have been carried out routinely by navies from various countries in this part of the North Atlantic for many years.
However, the current exercises come at a time when NATO countries claim a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. He said that any suggestion that Moscow was planning to start a war was simply fake news and nothing more.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told that Ambassador that these exercises were “not welcome”. He asked whether Russia would cancel them because Ireland are not happy about them. The Ambassador said that he had relayed Mr. Coveney’s concerns to Moscow but they would be going ahead with their own plans regardless.
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