Ireland should not rule out Ukraine peacekeeping, Harris says

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

It would be “irresponsible” for Ireland to rule out sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in the future, the Tánaiste has said.

Simon Harris’ comments come on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Harris said: “Ireland can’t come to these meetings or other meetings and talk about standing with Ukraine and talk about peace and then recuse itself from from conversations around what happens when a war ends.”

However, he stressed: “We can’t just jump to the issue of peacekeeping when we’ve seen no evidence yet from Putin that he wants peace.

“I mean, we hear a lot of talk about peace while a brutal aggressor is continuing to attack Ukraine, and today we mark the third anniversary of that brutal invasion.

“But if we get to a point where there is a peace in place and there is a need for the keeping of that piece – not the enforcing of it – but the keeping of it and if that happens within the context of the rules that apply in Ireland, of course, we’ll engage constructively in relation to that.

“And I think it would be irresponsible and lacking in solidarity for any country to take itself off that pitch in terms of being willing to discuss.”

Mr Harris also confirmed that Ireland is prepared to send a “small amount” of “legacy” radar equipment to Ukraine.

He added: “I do think it’s right and proper that if any country, including Ireland, has legacy equipment that may be of use to Ukraine or that they believe may be of use to them, that we should seriously engage in making that available.”

He said Ireland is in the process of procuring new capabilities in relation to radar, adding that he wants that process to be expedited.