Ireland condemns Russian ‘attack on sovereign people of Ukraine’

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – Ireland on Thursday condemned Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, calling it an “attack on sovereign people.”

“I utterly condemn Russia’s indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine,” Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin wrote on Twitter.

The prime minister further said: “Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable. Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.”

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Ireland “condemned” Russia’s launch of military operation in Ukraine.

“At the emergency UN Security Council meeting, Ireland condemned the decision of Russia to launch a military operation and called on UNSC members to “assume their responsibility and to speak out in the strongest possible terms about this act of aggression,” he wrote on Twitter.

Early Thursday, explosions were reported in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyiv, and tanks reportedly crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine.

The news followed Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a military intervention in Ukraine, just days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine. The recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk drew international condemnation and threats of tougher sanctions against Moscow.

Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops around Ukraine in recent months, but Putin repeatedly denied any intention of invading.