Ireland to increase financial contributions to Ukraine, Taoiseach says
Addressing the Support Ukraine summit via video link from Dublin, Micheál Martin said Ukraine’s defence of its sovereignty is 'so important' for small nations across the world and the protection of the rules-based international order. Picture: Gareth Chaney
If peace was negotiated in Ukraine, Ireland would play a role in a monitoring mission but would not be involved in enforcing a settlement, the Taoiseach has said.
Micheál Martin said today that if a ceasefire was negotiated between Ukraine and Russia, there would be an immediate phase of cessation of hostilities that would need to be monitored which would be under a UN resolution.
"That is something we could consider. The broader and more deeper question of ultimate security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a negotiated settlement, which will be some time off, will be completely of a different order and we would not be involved in that," he said.
Mr Martin told a meeting of world leaders that Ireland is committed to increasing financial aid to Ukraine "on all fronts".
The virtual meeting was convened by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Martin said the Government is examining ways to circumvent the European Peace Facility which has been paralysed by Hungary who has opposed the release of funds.
"We are looking at alternative ways of getting assistance and support to Ukraine financially. Europe is also looking at other financial mechanisms that Ireland would be a part of as a contributor to the EU budget," he said.
Mr Martin reiterated his view that Ukraine's membership of the European Union should be accelerated.
Ukraine's defence of itself and its sovereignty is important to small nations such as Ireland because our only ultimate security is rooted in the international rules-based order, he said.
Europe must hold firm and stay unified because peace can only be achieved through strength, the Fianna Fáil leader said, adding that Russia cannot be rewarded for its illegal invasion.
"Let's not forget the brutality of that war when it started. We all remember the scenes at the train stations of families being separated," he said.
Tributes were paid to Mr Zelenskyy and the "resilience and courage" of the Ukrainian people during today's meeting.
"I spoke about our need to think of all those that lost their lives in this brutal war, of the children who have been abducted," Mr Martin said.
Ireland will attend an emergency summit of the European Council on March 6 which was announced by European Council President Antonio Costa on Sunday.
"We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security," Mr Costa said.
Further proposals will be tabled by the European Commission and Ireland will be supportive of those measures, Mr Martin said.
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste said it would be “irresponsible” for the country to rule out sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in the future.
However, Simon Harris said discussion on possible peacekeeping missions may be premature as he has not seen any evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants peace”.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Harris said: “Ireland can’t come to these meetings or other meetings and talk about standing with Ukraine and talk about peace and then recuse itself from conversations around what happens when a war ends.
“I think it would be irresponsible and lacking in solidarity for any country to take itself off that pitch.”
Mr Harris is to present proposals to Cabinet to change Ireland’s “triple lock” system for deploying soldiers on peacekeeping, crisis management and evacuation missions.
Cabinet in April approved amending the triple lock system, which opposition politicians had warned could threaten Ireland’s neutrality.
The Defence Bill will set out a proposal to remove a veto held by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the US, Russia, China, France and the UK — over the deployment of Irish peacekeepers abroad, in the event where it has been approved by the Irish Government and the Dáil.
Currently, Ireland cannot deploy any more than 12 Defence Forces peacekeepers overseas without the mission being approved by a UN Security Council vote.
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the amendment by the Foreign Affairs Committee will be required as part of the proposed change.
Mr Harris said: “By making the changes proposed, we would be removing the veto power of Security Council members over Ireland’s international engagement, while safeguarding the essential link with international law and good governance.
“Such a change would permit us to continue Ireland’s peacekeeping record, of which we are so justifiably proud.” He added: “I want to be clear that in bringing forward these proposals I have no desire to alter Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.
“What we are proposing would remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
“This will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland’s non-participation in any military alliance.
“This is also not in any way, shape or form an attempt to disengage from the UN. Instead it allows Ireland to seek to improve the UN from within.”
Ireland has had no peacekeeping mission approved by the UN since 2014.
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