The Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland has said that her country hopes that Russia fulfils its promise of withdrawing troops from the border.
However, Larysa Gerasko added "but we know how Russia acts and we will need to see this withdrawal".
She told the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs and Defence committee that Ukraine is looking for a peaceful resolution of tensions but the country is ready to defend its independence.
Ms Gerasko said there are no NATO or US or any foreign military troops in Ukraine.
She said Russia has the world's second largest army and the biggest nuclear arsenal in the world and she questioned who would threaten such a powerful nation.
Committee chairman Charlie Flanagan said Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
He said the Irish embassy in Kyiv would remain open with a small number of staff.
Elsewhere, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that he welcomes any moves to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine, but said it "should not have come to this".
Mr Martin said that massing 130,000 troops on a country's border is a "fairly intimidating prospect", was "very, very worrying" and is "not justified".
He noted that there are security issues which Russia can seek reassurances on, but emphasised that dialogue is the mechanism that should be used.
He was responding to Solidarity-PBP TDs Mick Barry and Richard Boyd Barrett.
Mr Martin also paid tribute to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for their interventions, and noted that the US had seriously engaged in the process by tabling proposals.
"We earnestly hope that conflict will be avoided", he said.
