THE TÁNAISTE AND Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore met earlier today with Russia’s ambassador to Ireland and expressed his ‘condemnation’ of the country’s recent actions in Crimea.

Speaking this afternoon at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Tánaiste asked Ambassador Maxim Peshkov to “convey Ireland’s deep concern” to the Russian government.

“The EU wants to see a peaceful solution to the current crisis and stands ready to engage in talks with all parties to resolve this crisis,” the Tánaiste said.

Withdrawing troops

However, he noted that the Union is willing to suspend talks on visa liberalisation and on a new economic agreement if Russia does not withdraw troops from the region.

He said the situation remains dangerous, and that there is still a chance all-out conflict will break out, but stressed that Ukraine’s “integrity, unity and independence” must be respected.

Ambassador Peshkov arriving at government buildings earlier. (Image Credit: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

“As I made clear to Ambassador Peshkov a short time ago, there is an urgent need for Moscow to de-escalate the situation”, Gilmore said.

He added that the EU’s relation with Russia “is clearly in crisis” as a result of recent actions by the country in Ukraine.

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