Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is consistently engaged at the European Union and United Nations in response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression, and support for Ukraine in the face of this aggression.

Last month, I participated in the informal Gymnich meeting of Foreign Ministers in Sweden in early May, and the May Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). I will continue this engagement at the June FAC.

At the Gymnich, Ministers discussed the issue of Ukraine in detail and agreed on the need for long-term commitment to Ukraine, including multi-annual financial support. Ministers also reiterated their firm committed to holding Russia accountable for its actions. Ministers also met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who updated on Ukrainian needs, as well debriefed on his own global outreach, including his meetings with partners in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

At the May FAC, Ministers were briefed by David O’ Sullivan, the Special Envoy for the Implementation of EU Sanctions. He provided details of his outreach to a number of countries to try and ensure that sanctions are not being circumvented. In my intervention, I stressed the importance of the EU agreeing on a further package of targeted sanctions and welcomed the focus on effective implementation. I also expressed my support for a further package of assistance measures through the European Peace Facility.

Ireland has also supported efforts to address the global impact of Russia’s war, particularly the increased global food insecurity which has resulted from the invasion. My European colleagues and I welcomed the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative last month, which will continue to provide life saving grain and other food staples to the countries that need it most. However, we need more predictable, and longer extensions going forward, and Ireland supports the UN Secretary General in his efforts to achieve this.