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

I welcome the work that President Hollande and Chancellor Merkel have done in getting agreement to a ceasefire but, as I have stated previously, the Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy should be leading these discussions on behalf of the 28 member states of the EU. The Minister was correct to condemn the assault on Debaltseve. Concerns have been expressed that the city of Mariupol may be the next flashpoint. If difficulties arise in that regard, it will mean the end of the Minsk peace plan. I hope that does not occur. It is important that the European Union continues to play an active role in seeking an end to the hostilities, the displacement of people and the needless loss of life that have occurred in Ukraine over the past 12 months.

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