The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has clarified that any potential deployment of Irish troops to Ukraine would be strictly limited to peacekeeping rather than peace enforcement operations.
Speaking at The Curragh Camp, Harris emphasized that the government would not support placing Irish soldiers in situations where they would need to engage in combat with warring parties. “We very much would see our roles as we generally do in this space of peacekeeping, not peace enforcement,” he stated.
According to The Journal, the comments come amid European discussions about potential peace mission scenarios that could involve phased deployments from observation to military presence. Any Irish participation would require approval through the Triple Lock system – a UN Security Council resolution, Cabinet agreement, and Dáil vote.
Harris acknowledged that current conditions don’t suggest an imminent peace agreement, noting that Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure. “That doesn’t look to me like a person is looking to make peace,” he said regarding Putin’s actions.
The Tánaiste’s remarks preceded a tense meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House, and come as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to host a European security summit focused on Ukraine.