Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

We have to acknowledge that there are very clear efforts on the part of the US to try and bring about a ceasefire, while at the same time acknowledging that elements of the 28 point plan that we saw put forward very clearly need further work. We cannot have a situation where land is ceded by force. That simply cannot be the basis for any type of ceasefire. We cannot have a situation where a country cannot in the future be able to defend itself should something like this happen again. Likewise, we cannot have a situation where Europe is committed to certain things without Europe being around the table. It is really important that Europe is part of the conversations, negotiations and discussions and that Ukraine agrees to whatever is put forward.

There is a recommendation or a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire that has been on the table since March. Ukraine has been very clear that it will sign up to that. It would ensure that all lines as they currently stand would be frozen, that people would come around the table and that negotiations on many of the matters that we have seen in the 28 point plan could be discussed at that stage. I would encourage that it would be something that is still on the table. We need to make sure that we support any discussions and negotiations but that our absolute commitment and priority is that Ukraine is supported and that it agrees to whatever is on the table in the proposals.

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