Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this opportunity to speak about the crisis in Ukraine. This is not a recent crisis. It began last November as hundreds and thousands of peaceful demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the decision of the authorities not to sign the association agreement with the European Union. I met with many of the demonstrators myself when I visited Ukraine and Kiev for the OSCE ministerial meeting in December 2013. The development of the crisis since then has been extensively reported and we have all watched with increasing concern as the demonstrations were met with repressive and ultimately lethal force. Then, following the departure of former President Yanukovich, we witnessed the seizure by Russian forces of a part of Ukrainian territory, the installation of a compliant local regime, the orchestration of an invalid referendum under a heavy military presence and the annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation.

The events in eastern Ukraine in recent days are a matter of grave concern. The actions of masked and armed individuals seizing buildings in several cities there clearly represent a highly organised and co-ordinated attempt to destabilise the country and to undermine the Government in Kiev in advance of the presidential election scheduled for 25 May. A constant area of focus by the European Union has been the need for an inclusive, fair and lawful election to take place by the end of May. The election is clearly of huge importance to the communities in Ukraine and the people of Ukraine who seek orderly, fair and efficient government. The period in the run-up to the presidential election is of great importance. What we have seen happen is that the Ukrainian Government and the authorities have demonstrated very great restraint in the face of huge challenges and pressures within the country and in the face of huge provocation from elsewhere.

In my address to Dáil Éireann on the issue two weeks ago, and following statements on this and other related matters in the Seanad, I set out the reasons such developments should be of concern to Ireland and why we must take a strong view on the issue. The main reason is because as a small country we depend very heavily on the respect others hold for international law and the ability of international law to create an atmosphere in which all countries - small and big - can protect their interests in a peaceful and lawful manner. There are clear procedures in place in international law on handling issues such as the location of borders and important questions on how communities and countries should govern themselves. Due to our own history and the many challenges we have faced in the past and currently, we understand the importance of international law. We understand the importance of being able to deal with neighbours and other countries in an atmosphere of respect and where law is respected. What we have seen happen in the developments I have outlined is that the body of international law has been completely flouted by the Russian Federation in the actions it has taken in Crimea and in the pressures and decisions that have been made in Crimea in recent months.

Throughout every phase in this crisis we have worked closely with our partners in the European Union. The European Union has been strong, consistent and clear during that period. The approach has been united in making clear that what happened in Ukraine is completely unacceptable and that it will have consequences for our relations with Russia. From the outset, the EU has played an active role in trying to facilitate a resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. In addition to its scheduled meetings, the EU Foreign Affairs Council has met twice and the EU Heads of State and Government have discussed Ukraine in extraordinary session as well as during the regular meetings of the European Council.