David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for their presentation which, as always, was very moving, strong and powerful. I also recognise the presence of the ambassador and her constant hard work on behalf of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Many questions have been asked and I will not repeat any of them. I will touch on one or two matters. There have been reports in the past few days about preparations to evacuate Kyiv in the event of further attacks. I noticed today that reports indicate that is not being encouraged. I ask Mr. Merezhko to comment on the displaced peoples, both internal and external, of Ukraine. How many people have had to move house? How are Ukrainians coping? Many people have come to other countries in Europe. They have been welcomed here and we are doing the best we can to look after people and house them. They are going to school and quite a number of them are working and so forth. I would like Mr. Merezhko to comment on the experience of peoples from Ukraine who have had to leave their homes and are displaced internally and externally. That is one question.

My second question which, for me, is intriguing relates to the position of the churches. I noticed that the Orthodox Church in Russia seems to support the Russian war and Russian aggression. I am perplexed about how a Christian church could do that. Mr. Merezhko might comment on that and on whether there has been any contact between the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the church in Russia.

Third, I note that the Prime Minister of India recently said that the war in impacting on everybody all over the world and so forth, while at the same time India is purchasing oil and so on from Russia. Has the Ukrainian Parliament and President made contact with India? What kind of relationship is there between Ukraine and India? What kind of communication is there between the Governments of both countries?