Sir, – I agree with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan when he said that, “the best way to take on Vladimir Putin is to stop buying oil, gas and coal from Russia”. I also agree with the German Green Party foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, when in acknowledging she was making a “180-degree turn” in support of new defence spending, said: “If our world is different, then our politics must also be different.”
Ireland’s Green Party policy of opposing the liquefied natural gas terminal in Kerry, voting against a European Parliament resolution condemning Russian aggression toward Ukraine in December, and the Minister’s own proposals to close a military barracks with no alternatives in place, must be reconciled with the new reality we now face. – Yours, etc,
Cllr JAMES GEOGHEGAN,
(Fine Gael),
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Dublin City Council,
City Hall,
Dublin 2
Sir, – I note that Grace O'Sullivan, a Green MEP, would not be in favour of the Irish contribution to EU aid for Ukraine being used for offensive ends (News, March 1st).
Perhaps she would like to supply doormats for Russian troops to wipe their boots on.
It is this sort of feeble-minded nonsense which has left Europe so weakened in the face of Russian aggression. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT HEARNE,
Chinon,
France.
Sir, – Luke Flanagan, Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and several other Irish MEPs predictably voted against a European resolution condemning Russian aggression toward Ukraine.
With war now likely to destabilise the continent for years to come, Ireland needs European representatives who can do more than embarrass us at every turn. – Yours, etc,
ALAN MURPHY,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Following Vladimir Putin’s threat to Sweden and Finland, I would suggest we consider approaching them to join Nato as a group. That would surely send a clear message to the Russian people about the direct consequences Mr Putin’s hostility and actions. – Yours, etc,
PETER KELLY,
Ardclough,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – The wholly illegal and brutal attack by Russia on one of its democratic neighbours brings home the absolute inadequacy of the United Nations. If, as in this case, the aggressor is a permanent member of the Security Council, the use of the veto totally hobbles the organisation. The veto creates a Disunited Nations, and it is time either to abolish the veto, or abolish the United Nations. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL WALSH,
Shankill,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I have made a note to self to pay closer attention to the geopolitical insights of Clare Daly MEP.
An acute observer of the international scene, she told us only a month ago that there was “no evidence that Russia has any desire to invade Ukraine, it would be of no benefit to them”, that the Russian mobilisation on Ukraine’s borders was “clearly defensive” and that Russian claims that their moves were defensive “stand up to scrutiny” (News, January 26th).
How distressing it must be for her that Vladimir Putin did not keep her in the loop.– Yours, etc,
PAT O’BRIEN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – As the Russian military continues to attack Ukraine and kill its citizens and Mr Putin puts his nuclear forces on alert, Ireland’s refusal to contribute to the EU’s purchase of lethal weapons for Ukraine is morally untenable. Ukraine is in dire need of both military and humanitarian aid. The Government needs to change its position. I, for one, am ashamed at the way we have gone into hiding on the high moral ground. – Yours, etc,
CHRIS FITZPATRICK,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – The Peace and Neutrality Alliance condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and expresses its solidarity with the innocent civilian population now suffering as a result. The invasion is a gross breach of international laws and a huge tragedy for the people of Ukraine. We urge the Irish Government and others to seek diplomatic resolution to the war, and not to support a dangerous or provocative Nato response to Russia’s actions.
Given the very worrying decision of Russian president Vladimir Putin to put his nuclear forces on high alert, the dangers associated with ongoing confrontation between Nato and Russia are now greater than ever. The expansion of Nato eastwards must now be reconsidered, as must the entire basis for the organisation’s existence. Nato is not a defence against war or invasion; instead, the presence of its bases and missiles close to the borders of Russia are a blockage to efforts to achieve speedy and peaceful resolution to the current war in Ukraine. While we acknowledge the right of Ukraine and its people to self-defence, we are also appalled by the European Union’s decision to finance the purchase and delivery of $500 million worth of weapons to the country. This is the opposite of what a bloc that describes itself as a peace project should do, and we call on Ireland not to support this.
This war must be immediately terminated before it expands and sucks in the European Nato states and the United States. Towards that end President Biden must publicly announce that Nato expansion is over for good, and that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova will not be joining Nato as member states. President Biden must also call for an international peace conference for the conclusion of a treaty that will establish the permanent neutrality of Ukraine which will be guaranteed by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Then negotiations can take place between the United States and Russia, including the removal of US tactical nuclear weapons from Nato states that are there in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a restoration of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty that was so foolishly and recklessly terminated by the Trump administration.
Now more than ever it is important for Ireland to pursue a policy of positive neutrality promoting international peace and justice. Peace and conflict resolution cannot be achieved by supplying more weapons or supporting military alliances or interventions. When wars like the one in Ukraine start, every effort must be made to stop the killing. To achieve this, diplomatic communications lines must be kept open and peace-making must be facilitated and pursued, especially by genuinely neutral and non-belligerent countries. – Is mise,
ROGER COLE,
Chair,
Peace and Neutrality
Alliance,
Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Sir, – There is overwhelming support in the US for giving as much help as possible to the Ukraine short of sending in troops. Despite our loser former president’s comment about Mr Putin’s “genius” move in invading Ukraine, there is negligible support for his view here in the US. Indeed many here see his comments as further proof of his treacherous intent.
The US, unfortunately, has dragged its feet.
We need to get more anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles to help the gallant Ukrainian people push back this Putin attack. Together with the unprecedented economic sanctions imposed by the US and our allies in Europe around the world, this would put an unbearable strain on Putin and his fellow thugs. I daresay it would not be long before Putin would find himself isolated nor would it be long afterwards that his henchmen would summon the courage to remove him. – Yours, etc,
JOHN COTTER,
St Melrose,
Massachusetts, US.
Sir, – I find it quite extraordinary that the EU’s historic and welcome decision to finance arms to Ukraine does not even merit a discussion on the impact of this on our “neutrality” as affected by Article 29.9 of the Constitution: “The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union where that common defence would include the State.”
While the decision may not technically fall foul of this provision, it is clear that the spirit of this is breached.
It is time for Ireland to amend this “cop-out” clause, take our place in the nations of the world and support and fight for those causes we believe in, instead of hiding behind Nato and the UK to protect us. – Yours, etc,
CIARAN McCOURT,
Parkland,
Florida, US.