Taoiseach says it is ‘unthinkable’ for Ukraine to cede land under proposed US peace deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 2nd left, looks at a map during his visit to Ukrainian 110th mechanised brigade in Avdiivka, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. Right is head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak; deputy head of the Presidential Office Roman Mashovets is 2nd right. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
It would be “unthinkable” for Ukraine to be asked to cede any land to Russia under a US-penned peace deal, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking in Johannesburg ahead of this weekend’s G20 meeting/url], Micheál Martin said that people in Ukraine do not want to be governed by a Russian “authoritarian” state.
US president Donald Trump, who is not attending the G20, has been working on a “peace deal” that would bring an end to the Russian bombardment of Ukraine.
Under the deal, it is reported that Ukraine would have to surrender significant areas of the Donetsk region, cut its army, and pledge not to join Nato.
Mr Martin said he needs to see the details of the US peace plan for Ukraine, which would require Ukraine to concede some of its land.
The Taoiseach said: “What's extremely important is that the Ukrainian position and its future security guarantees are solid, but also that territory there is crucial.
“They can't really concede any territory that hasn't been conquered by Russia now or being taken over by Russia, despite a military campaign of so many years.
“It would be just unthinkable that any pressure could be put on Ukraine to cede territory that it has successfully resisted various attacks from Russia on.
“Logistically, it is also extremely important. For people of those areas, they want to live in a democracy, not it an autocracy.
“That is a very real issue. The Ukrainians want to belong to the European Union. They see what live can be like and they certainly don’t want to go into a sort of Russian authoritarian state governing their land.”
Elsewhere, Mr Martin paid tribute to the gardaí working as part of Operation Destabilise into Russian money laundering.
He accused Russia of “propaganda” following comments by a Russian spokeswoman on Irish neutrality, noting ongoing “hybrid attacks” across Europe.
“There is a lot of tension, and there's a lot of worry and concern within the European Union, in particular, about the recklessness of some of what has happened over the last number of months,” he said.
“We do have concerns in terms of critical undersea infrastructure, and that is why we are cooperating with others to protect our economic security, both in terms of gas connectors and in terms of subsea cable.”
Mr Martin is in Johannesburg to attend the G20 as a guest country following an invitation from South Africa.
Mr Trump will not attend as part of an ongoing spat with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding what the US president suggested was “genocide” of white farmers. Mr Ramaphosa denied this.
There were conflicting reports on Thursday evening about whether a US delegate would attend the G20 ahead of the summit moving to the US next year.
Despite the US’ absence, Mr Martin said he believes there will be a “quite substantial” declaration at the end of the two-day leaders' summit, which will finish on Sunday.
The Taoiseach also said that any allegations of genocide have been denied by the South African Government.
Mr Martin said Ireland was “very honoured to have been invited by South Africa to become a guest country for the G20”, noting that this was not an invitation that Ireland sought.
His first day in South Africa will include several trade and bilateral events, including a lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia.
In the afternoon, he will attend the event, hosted by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa.
He will also travel to the , co-hosted by President Ramaphosa and UK prime minister Keir Starmer.
In the evening, the Taoiseach will attend a Bord Bia whiskey-tasting event, followed by an Irish community and business reception hosted by Ireland’s ambassador to South Africa, Austin Gormley.
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