Northern Ireland political crisis 'very worrying': Irish Europe Minister

We also discuss military tensions in Europe amid the huge Russian military build-up on Ukraine's borders. Thomas Byrne tells FRANCE 24 that for Ireland, "it's very important that we keep talking about this and try to resolve this in a diplomatic way, while still being firm in the resolve and determination that Ukraine should be able to fulfil its own destiny as a nation and have its own right to its territorial integrity." 

Unlike 21 of the European Union's 27 member states, Ireland is not a member of NATO; the other non-NATO EU members being Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Malta and Sweden.

However, since 2014, Dublin has backed EU economic and trade sanctions against Russia over the annexation of Crimea and Moscow's backing of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The minister confirmed to FRANCE 24 that Ireland is ready to join new EU sanctions against Russia if Moscow makes a fresh move against Ukraine: "We've already said there would be massive consequences […] However all minds on the European side at least are focused on trying to ensure that diplomatic efforts succeed, and that's certainly where we as a neutral country are focused.”

Produced by Georgina Robertson, Perrine Desplats, Sophie Samaille and Isabelle Romero

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