The Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko has called on Ireland and the EU to immediately impose sanctions on Russia and not to wait for an invasion.
Ms Gerasko told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that her country was expecting a full-scale invasion by Russia as they were moving more troops and equipment close to the Ukrainian border.
It comes as US president Joe Biden has said he would consider imposing sanctions on the Russian leader Vladimir Putin if he orders an invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Biden said there would be “serious economic consequences “ for Russia if it sent troops into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland rejected claims by the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov that talk of an invasion was “western propaganda”. Russia spread misinformation and launched cyber attacks and tried to undermine the situation in Ukraine and Europe, she said.
“The Kremlin is very resourceful.”
Russia was ready to attack Ukraine and was attempting to blackmail Ukraine and the rest of Europe and Nato. The planned Russian naval exercises off the coast of Ireland also demonstrated this, added Ms Gerasko.
It was the sovereign right of Ukraine to join any alliance they wished. “It is our sovereign right to determine our future.”
Russia always brought threats to the region and had previously invaded Ukraine in 2013, she said.
The support of “our partners” was important “at this critical moment”. The threat of invasion by Russia underlined that there was no security in Europe if there was no security in Ukraine, said Ms Gerasko.
The ambassador expressed her gratitude to Ireland for its “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s sovereignty and Ukraine’s integrity.