Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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163. 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. [27399/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all condemn Vladimir Putin's war of aggression on Ukraine and its recent intensification. It has resulted in a considerable loss of civilian life and many reprehensible attacks on civilian infrastructure. It represents the largest land conflict in Europe for nearly 80 years. Progress towards a ceasefire has been extremely slow. We all hope for a peace, but one that is sustainable. What is the Tánaiste's current understanding of the situation?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. Ireland’s support for the Government and people of Ukraine is steadfast. This remains a key focus of my Department’s engagements with Ukrainian interlocutors at political level; with the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin through the Irish Embassy in Kyiv; and at EU and international level, where I continue to raise Ukraine as a matter of priority.

The Ukrainian foreign minister regularly joins the monthly meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council to provide an update on the situation in his country. On 20 May, the council discussed how the EU could step up its military support for Ukraine, play a constructive role in any potential peace process and contribute to security guarantees as part of a peace agreement. This followed an informal meeting of the council in Lviv on 9 May, as well as a ministerial meeting of the core group for the establishment of a special tribunal to ensure that those responsible for Russia’s aggression face justice. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, attended these meetings as a further signal of the Government’s steadfast support for Ukraine. In April, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, visited Odesa to open an underground school shelter co-funded by Ireland and then travelled on to Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian interlocutors focused on Ireland's commitment to supporting Ukraine, including on its EU accession path. On 6 May, the Ukrainian foreign minister joined the Global Ireland Summit virtually, where he provided an update on the latest developments and current needs and expressed appreciation for support offered by Ireland to Ukraine to date. Across these engagements, Ireland has underlined our commitment to working with Ukraine and our partners to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in line with the principles of the UN Charter, and provides the necessary security guarantees so that we do not see a return to Russian aggression in the future.

Ireland has provided extensive political, humanitarian, non-lethal military and economic support to Ukraine since February 2022. This includes €138 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports. Recently, Ireland committed €100 million bilaterally in non-lethal military support to Ukraine.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Obviously, it is incredibly frightening when you are dealing with the reality of underground schools. There is huge desire internationally for peace but the fear is Vladimir Putin is just playing along. The Ukrainian Government obviously has a desire for peace, but I imagine it would have to be on a sustainable basis. It has an appetite for real negotiations. We have seen attacks on energy infrastructure, civilian infrastructure and on the home city of President Zelenskyy, Kryvyi Rih. We all condemn these attacks and it is difficult not to be somewhat cynical about the attitude towards peace of Vladimir Putin. During a recent set of peace talks in Istanbul on 16 May, Russia sent a low-level delegation. How serious are they? We have many issues with the US Administration but it was previously inclined to offer latitude to Russia. It seems to be running out of patience. Does the Department have an expectation of what may come from the next round of negotiations on 2 June?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome what the Deputy says because it reminds us of the fact there is only one aggressor here. It is Russia. It is Putin. There is a President of Ukraine and a President of Russia. The President, Government and people of Ukraine are willing and ready to accept an unconditional ceasefire for a period of time to provide space for proper talks and negotiations on a lasting, just, enduring peace. Russia talks about peace but there is always a caveat, hurdle or obstruction. All the time while talking about it, obstructing and refusing to accept an unconditional ceasefire, it continues to bomb civilian infrastructure and attack Ukraine, its civilians and its energy infrastructure. I have been in Kyiv and met people whose homes have been destroyed by Russian shelling. Russia talks about peace but it is never just yet. That is why the world cannot let up and why, I think, we will need further sanctions against Russia, including at EU level.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's criticism of Russia's warmongering and cynical approach to peace talks. It is important that the international community escalate pressure in that regard. The Irish position has been that Ukraine must be at the negotiating table. There is an absolute logic to that. The European Union needs to be at that negotiating table also. Does the Tánaiste believe more is required from the EU to build international pressure on Russia? That means moving on whatever sanctions can work. I assume the United States will take a position. We will deal with many issues where we are in no way happy with how America is operating in the world but it can play a decent role here. There are means by which the European Union, America and the international community can build a peace process and a sustainable peace.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is right. We cannot walk away from supporting and standing by Ukraine. We all want peace. We all want to see the killing and the war end. We want to see the prisoners released. We saw some degree of a prisoner exchange recently. However, we do not want a peace that rewards aggression or that rips up the UN Charter. We do not want a "peace" that does not involve Ukraine. Therefore, the most important thing to do is keep the pressure up. That is why we have to support further sanctions against Russia. We welcomed the adoption of the 17th package of sanctions on 20 March. This package builds on significant bodies of sanctions the EU has put in place since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. These sanctions are clearly having an economic impact but given Russia's continuing aggression in Ukraine, we need to see further sanctions. The Commission and member states are now working on proposals for an 18th package and these proposals are expected to focus on reducing Russian revenue from the energy sector, as well as further measures to prevent Russia from accessing battlefield goods and technology.