Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following a conference at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April, organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly Ukraine's defence capabilities, as well as to pledge and co-ordinate further support to Ukraine, Ireland was invited to join the newly-formed Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Meetings of the group took place on 23 May and 15 June. On both occasions, Ireland was represented at senior official level by the Department of Defence and at senior military level by the Defence Forces.

The group provides a forum to discuss the response of the international community to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ireland has already provided military equipment in the form of body armour and ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian armed forces and has committed to contribute a further €44 million through the European Peace Facility. More than 45 countries, including almost all NATO and EU member states, as well as a number of African and Asian countries, participated in the most recent meeting. There is no published official record of these meetings.

It is considered useful for Ireland to avail of all appropriate opportunities for high-level and diplomatic engagement on issues relating to Ukraine, particularly as regards the long-term perspectives for the conflict and the potential scenarios ahead, including any eventual pathway to a negotiated solution, as well as the wider transformation of the European security landscape. At this point, no further meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group have been scheduled.

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