Taoiseach labels Vladimir Putin a 'bully and a thug'

Micheál Martin says Ireland has no hesitation in supporting sanctions against Russia

Micheál Martin has described Russian president Vladimir Putin as a 'thug' who has committed war crimes in breach of international law. Picture: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described Russian president Vladimir Putin as a "thug" and a "bully" who has committed war crimes in breach of international law.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin also said while he understood the anger towards the Russian ambassador and his utterances in advance of the invasion, he said no EU country was proposing the expulsion of ambassadors at this time.