Ireland will not be part of any ‘deterrent’ deployment in Ukraine – Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks to the media in Liverpool, ahead of the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland Summits taking place in Britain. Picture: Cameron Smith/PA

The Taoiseach has said, while Ireland is willing to be part of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, it will not participate in any troop deployment designed as a military deterrent.

Micheál Martin, who is in Liverpool for a UK-Ireland political summit, also insisted he wanted to have a “respectful” meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House next week, when issues around Ukraine and wider European security may feature in discussions.