TANAISTE Simon Harris has played down the possibility of sending Irish soldiers to Ukraine for a peacekeeping mission as he declared: “we’re not at that point yet.”
US and Russian officials are meeting today in Saudi Arabia for the first day of negotiations to bring about an end to the invasion of Ukraine.
A number of European leaders met in Paris yesterday to consider Europe’s response to these talks.
The White House had asked European leaders if they would be willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a deal is struck with Russia.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was open to sending British troops to Ukraine but only if the US provides a security “backstop”.
Poland PM Donald Tusk said he will not send Polish soldiers into Ukraine while Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni is also opposed to the idea.
Minister for Defence Simon Harris was today asked if he believes Ireland should send peacekeepers to Ukraine if a deal is struck.
He said: “Irish rules around peacekeeping are very clear.
“Obviously we have a process that has to be followed in considering any mission and that obviously involves the United Nations, it involves government and it involves the Oireachtas.
“We are simply not at that point yet. Our Defence Forces have a very proud tradition of playing majorly important peacekeeping roles in troubled and challenging parts of the globe.
“I’m very proud as Defence Minister of the work of our Defence Forces but we are not at that moment yet.
“What we should be very conscious of is that while lots of people are talking about wanting to bring peace to Ukraine we are still seeing [Vladimir] Putin engage in acts of aggression and acts of sabotage on a daily basis on Ukraine, Ukrainian people and Ukrainian infrastructure.
“So the most important thing right now is to stop the war but to stop the war in a way that is consistent with the UN charter with the territorial independence of Ukraine.”
The Tanaiste was speaking on his way into Government buildings where he was due to attend an online meeting of the European People’s Party where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will brief leaders about the meeting in Paris.
The Tanaiste spoke out against the format of the US Russia peace talks and said there should be “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” and nothing about European security without Europe at the table.
