Not long ago, we reported that Kyiv's mayor had told Associated Press that his city was "encircled" by Russian forces.
Now Vitali Klitschko is saying that is not the case, and it is in fact "disinformation".
Kyiv is now surrounded according to reports from Ukranian side - no evacuation of refugees possible at present.
Ireland will not contribute financially to weapons for Ukraine, after the EU announced it would close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund weapons purchases to Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets.
The country has a longstanding policy of military neutrality.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told PA news agency: “The EU Foreign Affairs Council will approve a package of assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces consisting of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment.
“Instead, we will provide a corresponding contribution to the provision of non-lethal support. Our understanding is that a number of Member States, including Austria and Malta, are likely to take the same approach.”
Sweden has announced it will send military equipment and other aid to Ukraine.
Announcing the move, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said it would be the first time Sweden had sent weapons to a country in conflict since the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939.
She said the shipments would include 5,000 single-use anti-tank launchers, 5,000 pieces of body armour, and 5,000 helmets as well as 135,000 ration packs.
"My conclusion is now that our security is best served by us supporting Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia," Andersson said. (Source: BBC)
The Government also granted Estonia a licence to re-export to Ukraine artillery guns and their ammunition, which Estonia had previously purchased from Finland.
Neutral but not cowardly. See, it can be done.Neutral Sweden on the other hand:
Neutral Finland:
Thanks for the clarification... bbc reported it seemed to come from his twitter feed. Was it hacked I wonder.
Not long ago, we reported that Kyiv's mayor had told Associated Press that his city was "encircled" by Russian forces.
Now Vitali Klitschko is saying that is not the case, and it is in fact "disinformation".
There’s no such thing as an unarmed neutrality.Sweden and Finland attended the recent NATO meeting. Sweden has a significant military and Finland could well join NATO as a result of this crisis. Theirs is an armed neutrality.
Neutral or unaligned - there's no difference except for contrived semantics. and words like "cowardly" are not relevant to us. We are either militarily involved or not militarily involved. There is no "in between" and consequently, we are not militarily obliged to enter any situation. OK! We love Ukraine and we hope the situation there will be resolved asap. We can't choose for whose benefit/loss we can change our neutrality/unalignment. Forget about "sometimes" and our rights and wrongs depend on where we sit and we don't have to pick any side in which we must send military support. We are peace keepers, not belligerents. That does not mean we are deserting countries like Ukraine.We aren’t neutral, we are unaligned. We don’t have armed forces to deploy but we are a rich Western country whose security is underpinned by the British, Americans and NATO. It is hypocritical and cowardly to benefit from that investment and risk of human life by others without even contributing financially or backing those who we ask to fight on our behalf to defend our freedom with our words or political capital.
Sometimes it’s about right and wrong.
Sometimes you have to pick a side.
This is one of those times.
We seem to be trying it here. When it comes to our airspace we are barely armed.There’s no such thing as an unarmed neutrality.
They are completely different. We are unable to defend ourselves so we are not neutral.Neutral or unaligned - there's no difference except for contrived semantics.
They are not relevant for those who have no sense of right or wrong, no ethics and no basic human compassion.and words like "cowardly" are not relevant to us.
Of corse there is an in between. We contribute to the EU budget and the EU itself is spending money on weapons so we are already militarily involved. We are cowards in that we won’t directly back that EU position.We are either militarily involved or not militarily involved. There is no "in between" and consequently, we are not militarily obliged to enter any situation.
We don’t have to, we can continue to be cowards, we can continue to be hypocrites. It’s what we should do that I’m talking about.OK! We love Ukraine and we hope the situation there will be resolved asap. We can't choose for whose benefit/loss we can change our neutrality/unalignment. Forget about "sometimes" and our rights and wrongs depend on where we sit and we don't have to pick any side in which we must send military support.
A belligerent is someone who attacks someone else. The person who goes to the aid of the victim is not a belligerent.We are peace keepers, not belligerents.
That’s exactly what it means. It is shameful, despicable.That does not mean we are deserting countries like Ukraine.
We are either militarily involved or not militarily involved. There is no "in between" and consequently, we are not militarily obliged to enter any situation. OK! We love Ukraine and we hope the situation there will be resolved asap. We can't choose for whose benefit/loss we can change our neutrality/unalignment. Forget about "sometimes" and our rights and wrongs depend on where we sit and we don't have to pick any side in which we must send military support. We are peace keepers, not belligerents. That does not mean we are deserting countries like Ukraine.
Not true, but I don't think it is appropriate to discuss it at length on this thread.he whole history of Irish corporation tax and the EU has been one of cute hoorism - and more thanks (I mean it ) to Charlie for bequeathing us that culture.
It started with a differential tax of 12.5% for IFSC companies and 40% for domestic companies.
I’m a child of the 70’s. This is, by far, the most significant political/military event of my lifetime.
It has only just begun and no doubt the Russian army will militarily overwhelm the people of the Ukraine in the short term. It's only then the resistance movements in Ukraine will start to kick in (and mainly passive resistance). Putin will then be on his way to being Communists greatest loser and as Sophrosyne suggested above his own will turn on him and Russia will lose more of its states. The faster this happens the better for Ukraine and Russia.I’m a child of the 70’s. This is, by far, the most significant political/military event of my lifetime.
Its not only about saving the dosh@cremeegg I agree that our selfish interests are to hide behind NATO's shield and save the dosh. Similarly, we should not be top of the class in fighting climate change, we can't make any difference and should piggy back off the big guys.
You and your sons and daughters are welcome to travel to Ukraine to fight for what you believe in. I will admire you for it.We aren’t neutral, we are unaligned. We don’t have armed forces to deploy but we are a rich Western country whose security is underpinned by the British, Americans and NATO. It is hypocritical and cowardly to benefit from that investment and risk of human life by others without even contributing financially or backing those who we ask to fight on our behalf to defend our freedom with our words or political capital.
Sometimes it’s about right and wrong.
Sometimes you have to pick a side.
This is one of those times.
Which country is sending their sons? (Nobody sends their daughters into combat roles)You and your sons and daughters are welcome to travel to Ukraine to fight for what you believe in. I will admire you for it.
I have no intention of giving my life for Ukraine and I would discourage my children from doing so.
Now when are you off, or it is just talk.
We don't have decent equipment for our Irish army and have treated Irish Army personnel with disdain and I'm sure the Ukraine army can get along without Irish military aid. Furthermore, I don't expect anybody to come to our aid even if we were invaded.Which country is sending their sons? (Nobody sends their daughters into combat roles)
We are in a position to send arms and we are choosing not to do so in order to remain neutral in a battle between democracy and authoritarianism. If anyone attacked us we'd expect the British and other EU forces to risk their sons to protect us.
True. So what?We don't have decent equipment for our Irish army and have treated Irish Army personnel with disdain
Yes, as long as other countries do the heavy lifting for us.and I'm sure the Ukraine army can get along without Irish military aid.
You would though, we all would.Furthermore, I don't expect anybody to come to our aid even if we were invaded.
Reality can be frightening. That doesn't make it any less real.I am involved with the local hurling club at under age level. It was frightening this week to hear young Irish girls and boys talking about the threat of another war in europe. Our schools have many eastern european students and this fear will spread.
A little OTT Purple - let's keep the discussion on an even keel, I don't think anybody is happy to let anybody die. You might feel like amending your post. For the record we have several Ukranian members and others from the rest of eastern europe also.True. So what?
Yes, as long as other countries do the heavy lifting for us.
You would though, we all would.
Reality can be frightening. That doesn't make it any less real.
If you train any children with Ukrainian family you can let them know that you're happy to let their family die without lifting a finger to help because, like, we're neutral.
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