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

I thank the Minister of State. One of the most recent comments I have heard in this regard was that approximately 40,000 Russian soldiers were deployed on the Ukrainian border, which could pose a particular threat to southern and eastern Ukraine.

Further Russian intervention would be a historic mistake. We hope these difficult but important issues can be resolved without the need for further sanctions. We all know how trade sanctions will affect the tentative economic recovery worldwide. Decisions must be taken if someone rides roughshod over people's rights. We hope it will be possible to avoid moving to stage 3 sanctions. The EU must send a clear message that it will stand up for the rights of small states and of people to keep their territorial integrity without interference.

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