BLAME PUTIN... NOT THE PEOPLE
Minister calls on Irish not to target Russians living here Promise of more aid to Ukraine from Ireland and the EU
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Simon Coveney yesterday called for calm and urged Irish people to direct their protests at dictator Vladimir Putin, and not Russians living here.
Tensions are rising after outrageous claims by Russian Ambassador Yury Filatov that protests outside his embassy are “very aggressive” and staff have received death threats.
Ambassador Filatov told Russian TV that Ireland was at the forefront of “anti-russian events” and that Irish people were being fed lies about what is going on in Ukraine.
He said his embassy had been vandalised, Russian children had been bullied and that relations with Ireland were as good as dead.
But yesterday, Simon Coveney told Newstalk’s Anton Savage that Irish people are “disgusted” by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and that is why they are protesting.
TARGETED
He said: “What I would say to Irish people is that under no circumstances should any Russian citizen in Ireland be targeted and certainly not children because of the decisions of their political leadership in the Kremlin.
“I hope Irish people make that clear distinction. The reason Irish people are protesting at the Russian embassy is because it represents the Russian Government and has stood over the decisions that Vladimir Putin has been making.
“Irish people should always respect the right to protest but to do that in an appropriate way and that is why the gardai have an obligation to ensure that people are safe.
“But that doesn’t mean that protests shouldn’t be loud and clear, peaceful but firm in terms of the messages we send.
“Irish people are angry, Irish people are disgusted with what they’re seeing.
“We have war on the continent of Europe on a massive scale and most people thought that those kinds of images had been consigned to history.
“But Russia has decided to change that and Irish people are as angry as other Europeans… and want it to stop.
“And that’s why we’ve been so vocal and I think we’ll continue to be throughout this war.”
Minister Coveney said that there are thousands of Russians living in Ireland and they are welcome and urged the public not to blame them for the actions of their leaders. He added: “The Irish people are not anti-russia. They are not antirussian either. There are many Russians living in Ireland and they are welcome to be here.
“What the Irish people are angry about is the decisions of the Kremlin and the Russian leadership and the Russian Government to wage war on a European country that is a neighbour of ours in the European Union to try and force their will on the Ukrainian people by brutalising their population and their country and their cities in breach of international law and the UN charter and committing war crimes on a daily basis.
“These are not made up facts, we can see for ourselves the images that are coming out from reliable sources. “There’s a reason why Russia has shut off Facebook, Twitter and virtually every other western-based media to the Russian public – because they don’t want them to see the truth of
what their own leadership are doing.”
Minister Coveney said what the world is witnessing is the destruction of a European state.
He said: “We are watching a country being destroyed by Russian aggression. We’ve already seen 1.2 million people fleeing for their lives across the borders, predominantly into the EU… half of those into Poland.
“Europe, NATO and others want to do as much as they possibly can to help Ukraine defend itself.”
He also said that more aid will be on the way to Ukraine from Ireland and the EU.
He added: “I have no doubt there will be more to come. The commitment in terms of military support is continuing and in fact it’s probably accelerating.
“The European Union has agreed, and Ireland is part of this, to spend half a billion euro in terms of supporting Ukraine’s military.
“The element that Ireland is contributing, about €10million, will focus on non-lethal weapons…fuel, helmets, bulletproof jackets, medical kits and other military supplies.”
Minister Coveney said there is a “strong chance” even tougher sanctions will be enforced, including the banning of all Russian shipping from EU ports.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Damien English said the Irish Government will use emergency planning powers to provide accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine.
Around 600 people have arrived here in the past week, with Ireland expected to provide for 20,000 refugees as Russia’s invasion continues.
English told RTÉ Radio One’s Saturday with Katie Hannon that the Government is at the “early stages” of the measures, adding they will be needed as the crisis unfolds.
“We will looking at vacant properties, we’ll be looking at hotels and other forms accommodation, temporary accommodation, and more structured accommodation,” he said.
“We will be able to use emergency powers if need be under planning laws and supports coming through Europe as well to respond to this.”