Russian threats - Time to stand up to aggression

There comes a time when a country must choose between taking a robust moral stand or sitting on the fence when a superpower makes a naked land grab on the territory of a weaker neighbour.

The moment of truth has now arrived for the Government following a direct threat to the economy voiced by the Russian ambassador to Ireland, Maxim Peshkov. Going far beyond the realm of diplomacy, his bellicose warning puts the Government on alert to the high economic price that Ireland will pay for supporting further EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of the Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.

So far, by any measure, the combined response of the US and Europe has been mealy-mouthed in the face of President Vladimir Putin’s ice-cold planning and execution of a high-risk strategy that succeeded. With almost 30% of Europe’s gas coming from Russia, the world’s biggest energy exporter, the sense of hesitancy is perhaps understandable, a factor which, no doubt, will inevitably colour Ireland’s stance if called upon to support tougher sanction.