No easing of sanctions on Russia until Ukraine peace deal, says Taoiseach
European leaders at the meeting in Paris on ongoing support for Ukraine. Picture: Ludovic Marin via AP
Sanctions on Russia must not be dropped by Europe until there is peace in Ukraine, the Taoiseach has said.
The easing of sanctions was suggested by Russian president Vladimir Putin as a prerequisite for talks on ending the three-year long invasion of Ukraine.
However, speaking in Paris on Thursday as he attended a European meeting of leaders on the ongoing support of Ukraine, Micheál Martin said this should not happen.
He said the issue of sanctions had been discussed and European leaders were unanimous they should not be lifted while the war continues.
The Taoiseach also said Ireland would seek to withdraw more money from a paralysed European fund aimed at supporting Ukraine to ensure it reaches the country.
The Government has previously been frustrated by Hungary's veto of the European Peace Facility and last month said Ireland would directly fund certain projects in Ukraine.
Mr Martin said Ireland had pledged €100m in support and would be examining how that could increase.
"Certainly, on the financial front, there is a need for increased financial assistance to Ukraine. We've already outlined that we're making an initial €100m contribution, which was part of our commitments already made in the context of the European peace facility, which has been paralysed by Hungary.
"And we have a higher level of commitment through that European peace facility. So we'll be looking to release more to Ukraine," he said.
Mr Martin last month met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Shannon Airport and had committed to direct funding for certain programmes. The Taoiseach said Ireland would pay for a programme which funds school meals and another which would fund the purchase of drones which are used to recover bodies from battlefields.
Mr Martin said Ireland had made a number of contributions to training Ukrainian personnel and to demining efforts.
He said Ireland was willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in the event of a sustainable peace.
"On the other side, there has been discussions around a deterrence force, or perhaps a force that will be there in solidarity with Ukraine. But what is clear is that the first important ingredient is a strong Ukrainian army that's well resourced, that has the necessary access to training and resourcing that essentially would be key to preventing any future invasion by Russia."
Mr Martin said while there was "certainly a lot of talk around monitoring ceasefires", Russia really "hasn't engaged in any ceasefire".
Speaking after the event, French president Emanuel Macron, who had convened leaders, said not every country in Europe was in agreement on a future force that would be deployed to Ukraine.
Mr Macron said France and Britain, which are driving the initiative, would forge ahead with a “reassurance force” with several countries.
France and the United Kingdom are pushing a separate initiative to build a coalition of nations willing in one way or another to support the deployment of a European armed force in Ukraine, with the aim of securing any peace deal by dissuading Russia from attacking the country again.
However, the appetite for such a force varies across Europe. In Ireland's case, a contingent of peacekeepers could be deployed, Mr Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have said in recent weeks, but on the proviso that a peace deal is reached.
