Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Monday will mark three years since Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. I wish to express my solidarity, and that of the Labour Party, with the people of Ukraine who have endured such devastation over those three years and have defended their country so courageously against Russia’s imperialist aggression. I condemn last night’s remarks by US President Donald Trump implying that Ukraine had started the war. Indeed, I condemn what we are seeing now with the sidelining of the European Union and, most importantly, the sidelining of Ukraine from Trump’s so-called peace negotiations with Putin. Ireland is militarily neutral but we are not, and should not be, politically neutral when it comes to standing with Ukraine. I am asking how the Government can best continue to show solidarity with Ukraine as we approach this anniversary. Will the Taoiseach commit to retaining support for the accommodation recognition payment at its current level?

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