The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there can be no lifting of sanctions against Russia.
Speaking following a four-hour meeting this morning at the Elysee Palace in Paris involving some 30 EU and non-EU leaders on security guarantees and support for Ukraine, Mr Martin said: "There was very clear unanimity that sanctions should not be lifted and cannot be lifted until there's a just peace and a comprehensive peace [in Ukraine]."
There have been concerns that the United States will start to relax some sanctions against Russia as a result of the tentative ceasefire over the Black Sea negotiated between US, Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia this week.
Following the meeting in Paris, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "There was complete clarity that now is not the time for the lifting of sanctions, quite the contrary - what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions."
Speaking alongside him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Everybody understood and understands that today Russia does not want any kind of peace."
The Taoiseach said there was strong support at the meeting for Ukraine and a conviction that the country had to be strengthened militarily in the event of any ceasefire.
He said there were two parallel peacekeeping discussions, one on a deterrence force and the other on a ceasefire monitoring force.
"Ireland certainly has indicated our willingness to participate in that," he told reporters in Paris.
"On the other side [of the debate] there have been discussions around a deterrence force, or perhaps a force that would be there in solidarity with Ukraine.
Very constructive engagement in Paris today at the Meeting on Peace & Security for Ukraine, attended by @ZelenskyyUa.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 27, 2025
We must keep Ukraine strong while a peace deal is being negotiated.
Thank you @emmanuelmacron & @Keir_Starmer for your leadership. pic.twitter.com/uzw32Z7aDm
He said the most important element was that there was a "strong Ukrainian army that's well resourced, that has the necessary access to training and resourcing that essentially would be key to preventing any future invasion by Russia".
The Taoiseach said the meeting had discussed ways of monitoring any ceasefires that might emerge and the advanced technologies that might be used.
"There is a sense that Russia really hasn't engaged in any ceasefire yet, despite all of [Russian] talk and in essence the bombing has continued, particularly on civilian infrastructure and on port infrastructure."
The Taoiseach said Ireland had made an initial contribution of €100m in immediate support for Ukraine, part of Ireland’s initial funding through the European Peace Facility that had, Mr Martin said, been paralysed by Hungary.
"On the financial side, we're committed to training [Ukrainian troops] ... and on demining and other areas."
He said in his recent meeting with Mr Zelensky in Shannon, they had identified the need for drone support in identifying front line troops who were injured and who needed to be evacuated.
