Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his Department’s recent engagements with the Government of Ukraine in respect of the ongoing conflict and efforts made to reach a ceasefire. [15542/25]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Since we last had questions here, we had the third anniversary of the vicious war of aggression by Russia, under Vladimir Putin, against Ukraine. It represents the largest land conflict and greatest displacement of people in Europe for nearly 80 years. Progress towards a ceasefire has been extremely slow.

While any progress is obviously welcome, it is extremely slow and seems to be consistently undermined by one of the parties and so I invite the Tánaiste to make a statement on that matter.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and he is entirely right. Calls for a ceasefire are being undermined by one party and that party is the aggressor. It is Putin and Russia. There are two presidents involved in this; President Zelenskyy has said he will accept without precondition a 30-day ceasefire to try to get into a process to bring about a lasting and enduring just peace. As recently as today, Putin continues to bomb civilian infrastructure, energy grids and ports. He continues to say this does not work for us and we need clarity.

There is a lot of talk about peace. On all sides of this House, we all want peace. Nobody wants peace more than the people of Ukraine and the Government of Ukraine. We are not seeing much by way of intent around peace from Putin yet. Obviously, the Taoiseach and I, as well as other members of the Government, regularly engage on the issue of Ukraine with European leaders at the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council, together with whom we remain committed to working with Ukraine to achieve that comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

I attended the Munich Security Conference recently, where we discussed global responses to major foreign and security policy issues. I met the Ukrainian foreign minister and that foreign minister also regularly joins the monthly meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council by video conference to update us on the situation. I also had engagement on the issue of Ukraine at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg. On 27 February, the Taoiseach met President Zelenskyy during his stopover in Shannon Airport and further met him, alongside fellow EU leaders, at the European Councils on 6 and 20 March. The Taoiseach was also in Paris for the leaders' meeting on security and defence on 27 March, which President Zelenskyy was at. On 24 February, a resolution on an early and just peace, tabled by Ukraine and co-sponsored by Ireland, was adopted at the UN General Assembly and the Minister for Justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, addressed the assembly calling for a peace that respects the UN Charter and he spoke to the deputy foreign minister of Ukraine to convey Ireland's support.

I remain deeply concerned about the situation on the ground in Ukraine, where we see that Russia is demonstrating a clear desire to continue escalation while pretending to be interested in peace.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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It certainly appears as though Vladimir Putin is using the cover of whatever desire exists internationally and which has been spoken about at length by the US President on peace, to buy time. Even the commitments that have supposedly been agreed have been undermined by attacks on energy infrastructure and civilian infrastructure of the kind that was meant to be prevented. It is not difficult to be somewhat cynical about the attitude towards peace of Vladimir Putin.

At this point, various parties, including the United States, may be inclined to give a certain amount of latitude but there may come a time when the issue of sanctions and further sanctions on Russia needs to be considered. Has there been discussion on further sanctions at a European level? Can the Tánaiste outline what sanctions are being considered and make a statement on that matter?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and we need to keep the sanctions regime under review. We remain fully committed in Europe and in Ireland to keeping in place the sanctions that are already in place. We have had an unprecedented number of rounds of sanctions and Ireland wants to continue to work with European counterparts to make sure any loopholes or agility that exists in respect of those sanctions are closed. We remain open and willing to constructively engage on any further sanctions, should they be required.

To be blunt, the US proposals for a temporary ceasefire are welcome. Anything that brings about a cessation of violence, stops the killing and gets people around the table to talk about peace is a good thing. I share the Deputy's view that so far, we have seen little in terms of intent from Putin in that regard while Ukraine is engaging positively and constructively, despite the ongoing military assault on towns, cities, ports and critical energy infrastructure. I know we share this view but the other point is how peace is made and what peace looks like also matters, should we get to that point of substantive talks.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I do not really have any further questions but I take the opportunity again to reject the statements that have been made by President Trump about President Zelenskyy. He is no dictator by any manner of means. The authoritarian here is Vladimir Putin and it is important to recognise the clear fact that the Ukrainians are serious about peace but it has to be on the basis of a just and sustainable peace and it needs to ensure Ukraine itself is at the table and indeed, partners in Europe. I have no further questions but I put that in the Official Report.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In this moment of agreement, let me add two things. Membership of the European Union for Ukraine is a positive, constructive role Ireland can play. We are a supporter of Ukraine's journey to EU membership and we need to continue to be because that, in and of itself, is a security guarantee to ensure Ukraine can have a future within the European Union. Second, peace and solidarity costs money and that is why we in Ireland are also committing to providing €100 million for practical, non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine. I brought proposals to Cabinet in relation to that recently.

It is more important than ever now that we help the people of Ukraine. I was in Kyiv with President Zelenskyy not that long ago. He is absolutely committed to peace and the devastation and destruction caused to his country by this brutal, illegal aggression from Russia needs to be condemned by all.