Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

What is happening in Ukraine and eastern Europe is, in fact, a clash between two imperialist powers with Russia on the one side and the US-led military alliance of NATO on the other. Both sides use the language of concern, on the one hand by Putin, who is an authoritarian thug, for the people in the Donbas, and on the other hand by NATO, which says it is concerned for the right of self-determination for Ukraine. In reality, neither is concerned about those who would be the victims of warmongering. They are both seeking to extend their zones of geostrategic interest.

We are very clear there needs to be an anti-war movement built, with the crucial demand there being Putin's troops out of Ukraine. Does the Taoiseach not agree NATO forces should also leave eastern Europe? The active NATO battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland should be removed. The missile bases in Romania and Poland should be removed. The annual and very significant military exercises by NATO, the so-called DEFENDER-Europe, which happened on Russia's border with 30,000 troops, should also be stopped. They are clearly aimed at encircling Russia.

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