Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Russia's seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region has caused the deepest crisis in East-West relations since the Cold War, thereby leading the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on Moscow. They have stated they will strengthen these sanctions if Russia moves beyond Crimea into eastern Ukraine. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which I am a member, had the opportunity to engage on different occasions with the ambassadors of both Ukraine and Russia. The joint committee held vigorous debates and a strong exchange of views in respect of particular issues that have arisen as a result of the illegal activity by Russia. What was the outcome of the discussions, if any, the Tánaiste or the Minister of State had with representatives of both countries?

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