Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the neutrality of Ireland

We have noted the heated debate in Ireland regarding the country’s military neutrality in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. Notably, the opposition is criticising the government for its decision to involve Ireland in the European Union’s combat training mission to train service personnel for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This initiative was called another official step to draw Dublin into EU and subsequently NATO military activity that in the long run would completely demolish the idea of Ireland’s traditional military neutrality.

We have to state that the right-centrist coalition now ruling Ireland is moving to virtually erode a constitutional ban on involving the state in military conflicts. Ireland’s seemingly illogical desire to destroy its state pillars is actually part of Washington and London’s efforts to consolidate the Western bloc along military lines. After Finland and Sweden join NATO, only a few countries, including Ireland, would remain outside the alliance. It appears that local authorities have no misgivings about the fact that a considerable part of Irish society does not support this line.

In new conditions, Dublin has taken another deliberate and unconstructive step, sacrificing bilateral relations with Russia. Cheered on by its British neighbour, the Irish side is consistently destroying the entire range of bilateral political, economic and cultural ties, and it is hampering the normal operation of the Russian Embassy in Dublin and blocking mutual trips and contacts under a far-fetched pretext. Ireland has been recently evaluating its role in the efforts of the collective West to ratchet up international pressure against Russia.

As historical experience shows, the loss of one’s sovereign rights spells nothing good.