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.

Given the lacklustre response from the West to date, ranging in degree from feeble to pathetic, and mainly comprising of sanctions against a handful of officials in a clique surrounding Putin, the increasingly repressive premier has little cause to be worried when he meets UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon in Moscow today.

Unlikely to succeed in exacting concessions from the Kremlin, the UN team will tomorrow meet Ukraine’s interim leaders who, though powerless to prevent Crimea’s illegal accession to Russia, have resisted all the attempts of barely disguised Russian troops to foment violence. Thankfully, up to the killing of a serviceman on Tuesday, the invasion was bloodless.

The EU’s indecision was clear to be heard yesterday in the somewhat vague language of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who has called on the EU to send “a very clear warning” to Russia, adding that the G8 group of industrialised countries should discuss whether to expel Russia “if further steps are taken”, a reference to the ongoing threat of invasion hanging over eastern Ukraine which has a pro-Russians majority whom Putin has promised to protect, thus giving this ongoing crisis a further ominous tweak.

Echoing the words of Russia’s increasingly repressive leader, the ambassador has reiterated Moscow’s warning that future restrictions would be a “double-edged blade” for the Irish economy. Giving sharper focus to a dilemma that also faces other EU member states, his words were menacing in tone and can only be interpreted as a blatant bid to intimidate the Coalition by directly threatening the flow of trade between Ireland and Russia.

According to the Irish-Russian business organisation, the balance of trade is heavily tipped in Ireland’s favour, with this country exporting €637m worth of goods and services to Russia every year. In contrast, imports from Russia amount to €142m.

Whatever the Government decides if this issue comes down to the wire, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore should not hesitate to call in Mr Peshkov and demand an explanation for so direct a threat to the Irish economy. Unless Russian ambitions are stopped in their tracks, a real danger persists of this crisis spreading and spiralling beyond control.