Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome H.E. Mr. Sergii Reva and his colleague to our meeting. I commend the restrained and measured response shown by the Ukrainian State in the face of extraordinary aggression from the Russian Federation. It is clear to me that the Russian Federation and President Putin feel threatened by the demands made by the Ukrainian people in terms of constitutional reform, liberal democracy and freedom. I am aware of the view of the Tánaiste and the European Union that a solution to this dreadful series of events has to be found but it must be achieved through the multilateral frameworks that exist and that have been used successfully in the context of resolving similar issues over the years. I would not agree with some of the remarks, if I heard him correctly, made by Deputy Crowe that the far right took to the street to support closer relationships with the European Union. In fact, the far right in Ukraine has more to fear from closer relationships with the European Union than the status quo. It is demonstrably clear that this would be the case. The type of institutional reforms encouraged by the European Union would ensure that Ukraine would be a very cold place for neo-Nazis and for those who occupy positions on the far right.