Ireland is set to discuss increasing its support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
That is what Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to tell Cabinet Ministers today.
To date, Martin has participated in four meetings of the so-called ‘Coalition Of The Willing’ – a group of 31 countries that have pledged enhanced support for Ukraine by declaring their readiness to participate in a peacekeeping mission on Ukrainian territory, including, potentially, through the provision of peacekeeping troops.
This peacekeeping force would only be deployed once Ukraine and Russia have signed a ceasefire agreement or a peace deal that brings the years-long Russia-Ukrainian War to an end.
Ireland in particular is presently supplying Ukraine with non-lethal military assistance, such as first aid kids, bulletproof vests, and training in removing explosives. But the Government is now weighing up whether to go further by contributing to an international peacekeeping mission, should a ceasefire or formal peace deal be reached.
This could potentially serve as a replacement to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which is due to end in 2027, and which Irish troops had participated in for almost 50 years.
The Taoiseach is expected to tell Cabinet that Ireland’s stance must move beyond its already firm backing for Kiev, with greater emphasis on security, humanitarian aid, and political support. Strengthening sanctions on Russia is also under consideration as part of efforts to increase pressure on Moscow.
Alongside this, Martin believes the Coalition has made notable headway in shaping a package of security guarantees that could form the basis of a durable peace settlement.
The news comes after last week the Russian embassy to Ireland has said that the possibility of Irish peacekeepers being deployed to Ukraine is “categorically unacceptable” because “Ireland cannot be considered a neutral state” in the Ukraine conflict.
The embassy said it was monitoring the Irish Government’s rhetoric closely and “considers it categorically unacceptable and unsustainable.”
“It is important to emphasize that Ireland cannot be considered as a neutral state with regard to the conflict in Ukraine,” the Embassy remarked.
“Given its openly Russophobic and pro-Ukrainian position, as well as its assistance to the Kiev regime, including military aid…Peacekeeping services of ‘neutral’ Dublin, even if they are indeed genuine, should start first and foremost with the rejection of the rabid anti-Russian rhetoric.”
Also in the last week, Russia has said the idea of European troops being deployed to Ukraine in any capacity is “unacceptable.”
The remarks come after the Taoiseach told Volodymyr Zelensky that Ireland is open to participating in peacekeeping in the region.