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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as the “Hitler of the 21st Century” as he says that sanctions against Russia will have an impact on Ireland’s economy.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One this evening, Varadkar said that Ireland is “not neutral” on the conflict, but added that there would be no military engagement by Ireland.
Russian forces first advanced over the Ukrainian borders yesterday morning, with bombing attacks across major cities in Ukraine.
Varadkar says that the EU is united on the situation and that he believes a third package of sanctions, following sanctions on Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, will include measures like barring Russian banks from the Swift banking system.
“I do, and I think it should,” said Varadkar, despite the potential impacts on the Irish economy.
“It may have an impact on our economy and our banking sector but we’re not in that space anymore. This is an atrocity.”
I don’t think we’re in that space where we can be concerned about the economic impact on Ireland when a democratic country in the European Union is being invaded and the attempt is being made to overthrow a democratic government there.
“The last time I can think of that happening in Europe is in the 1930s and I think we should see this conflict in that context.
“We knew that Putin was a bad man, we’ve known that for a long time now, but we didn’t think that he would be the Hitler of the 21st century and I think he’s putting himself into that space.”
Ambassador expulsion
There have been calls by multiple Irish politicians for the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador to Ireland, Yuriy Filatov.
This includes Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher and TDs from Labour and the Social Democrats.
However, Varadkar said it was not something the Irish government currently planned to do, but that it wasn’t being ruled out.
“It’s not something that we plan to do at the moment, it’s not something that we’re ruling out either.
“As is often the case, these things are done on an EU coordinated level.
“It is the kind of thing we can do.”
Varadkar says that expelling the ambassador would not change much and that it would be a symbolic move.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney also addressed the potential expulsion of Filatov, saying that EU foreign ministers decided against it, but that it remains on the table.
“Following consultations with my EU Foreign Minister Colleagues today, we have decided as a bloc not to expel Russian ambassadors. This and other possible diplomatic measures remain on the table,” Coveney said in a statement.
On RTÉ’s Six One, Filatov addressed the calls for his expulsion from Ireland.
When asked, he said: “That’s a good question, you might ask that of your government, it’s up to them.”
RTÉ Six One interview with Russia’s Ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov | Live updates: https://t.co/65zqcDbQ9X pic.twitter.com/1y7QfJUkh7
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 25, 2022
Earlier today, hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Russian embassy in Dublin for a second day protesting the invasion of Ukraine.
The crowd sang and chanted slogans in opposition to the Russian invasion.
Chants included: ‘Military help, for Ukraine’ and ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ in the direction of the embassy.
Yesterday, red paint was thrown against the wall of the embassy after Russia began the invasion of Ukraine.
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The Russian Embassy can be used to house Ukrainian refugees after Filatov has been told to Fekitov.
Says the man who went on a trade mission to Saudi Arabia
@Emily Barton: Let’s stick to the Crisis of the day, not petty poking bull.
Varadkers description of puten as the 21st century Hitler is bang on
@Ned: Putin proper spelling not that it matters with this Putin dude
@Donal Desmond: he wasn’t on this planet then so what are you talking about lad
@Donal Desmond: what are your views on Sean Russell and those who followed him?
@Bryan Mc Mahon: Sean Russell fought on the Republican side in Spain ..Unlike the Blueshirts who even Franco couldn’t tolerate. Sean Russell had an ideal , that Ireland could never be a Republic until there was a United Ireland. He was not a fascist, but was of the mind the the enemy of my enemy is my friend..Will agree he did not see the bigger picture concerning the Fascist regime of Nazi Germany, but he would had been proud to see the Red flag flying over the Richstag.
@Ned: Think you won’t to check you history concerning FG . Just look up Eoin O’Duffy and the Blueshirts..Even Franco couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.
@Donal Desmond: what happened back in the 30s is not relitave today what varadker said about Putin I am sure would be agreed by politicians from both sides raking up the distance past in this situation does not show a united front against Putins aggression in the Ukraine
@Donal Desmond: was it not your mob that tried to ally up adolf and his lot.
@Ned: Funny, but when Varadkar or Martin are asked a question by the opposition, especially SF Varadkar and Martin have no problem in referring to the past .
@Chris Mc: There was a section the aided German agents that landed in Ireland, on saying that you would want to check out the speeches of Charlie Flanagan,s father in the Dail….The apple did,t fall far from the tree There.
Does our tanaiste honestly think Ukraine is in the EU? It is not.
Does that mean Fine Gael will be supporting him then, like they did Hitler back in the day?!
@bob hope: shows how much Leo is in touch with the real world
Sanctions will do nothing. The world needs to respond with military force
@Niall: And we will all be dead. And all our children. That’s the undeniable risk of getting into it with the third biggest army in the World with the second biggest nuclear arsenal with a lunatic at the wheel. The only change can come from within Russia itself.
@Eoin Roche: totally agree, there is no silence in war. The Russian people must speak out against this tyrant that so calls represents them. There are not enough cells in Russia for 60 million people
@Niall: Will you go. Very easy for countries to go to war…problem is how to stop it.
@Niall: have you booked the flight yet? Ukraine taking volunteers.
@Eoin Roche: stop the fear mongering bs just for a second. Only someone with such a lower IQ would say such a thing. If we let Russia take Ukraine without any retaliation then Russia won’t stop with Ukraine. They’ll invade more states too. The world needs to respond with military force. Not using nuke’s…
@Niall: part of NATO statement today “We are now making significant additional defensive deployments of forces to the eastern part of the Alliance. We will make all deployments necessary to ensure strong and credible deterrence and defence across the Alliance, now and in the future. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory.”. Ukraine are on their own unfortunately. It looks unlikely there will be direct military support.
@DJBERMO: I never mentioned NATO. I’m talking about counties that believe in human decently should help Ukraine.
@Niall: Poland’s humanitarian gesture today was heartening. Wouldn’t be holding my breath for any country to take military action against Russia
@Niall: You dodged an earlier question – will you join the forces sent to repel Russia? Should Ireland send our troops?
@Eoin Roche: The U.S. were quit willing to go nuclear during the Cuban missile crisis. Thank Christ that did not happen. Do not agree with the invasion by Russia, but the US / NATO are not as innocent as being portrayed.
@Niall: too sacred of nuclear war
I would a put a nice amount of money he wouldn’t say the same about Bush. Who killed far more. Therefore he lacks credibility, for more than the first time!
Does that mean he will be sending out help like FG Blueshirts we read about in the history books in World War II chapters
@Anne Marie Kearney: I read a lot of those books but I can’t remember the Blueshirts who were dissolved in 1935 being involved in the war from 1939-1945 on any side…
@William Tallon: The Blueshirts went to Spain in 1936..They sailed on a German ship flying the Swastika. They went there to support the fascist regime of Franco. The only real action they were engaged in was a disaster, when they fired on their own side. O’Duffy spent most of his time getting drunk ..Even Franco couldn’t stand them. They were back home within just over a year.
Ordinary Russian citizens will suffer, but Putin has got to be treated as a grave threat. He promoted himself as the strong leader to uphold Russia’s traditional legacy and culture (i.e. satellite states) and treats the normal elements of a developed society as “Foreign agents” and political debate wrapped in assassination, exile and imprisonment. He’s not to be negotiated with, but forced into a more limited ability to carry out his ‘mission’.
Surely he should go after Xi Jingping then, who is also running concentration (oh wait, ‘reeducation’) camps and acting similar enough to Putin, complete with questionable Olympics that spat in the face of human rights before a war.
Such a strong statement might plausably be intended to be read as follows: even if we can go back to the pub without restrictions, it’s for the greater good if we’ll no longer be able to afford to.
I certainly don’t want to see ww3 over this but we will if puntin pushes on to a nato member state , it’s diplomacy and sanctions and restraint Is needed in a very dangerous situation like this not war
In 2018 Leo as Taoiseach expelled a Russian diplomat over nerve agent attack in London. A act of solidarity with UK.
Yet when Putin launches a full scale war described by Leo himself as an atrocity. We are schooled in why we do nothing. The Russian Ambassador role is nothing more than a fifth column spreading misinformation. Does he speak for all Russians or only one?
Putin is leader of the United Russia party. Russia’s largest party with a 73% majority. It’s hard to believe that Russians don’t support their leader. Yet the protest nightly in Moscow placing themselves in known danger. Could this be another stunt to sway western option?
It’s not inconceivable to think that Putin has been preparing for this for years, has foreseen the economic sanctions and the wests reaction and is well ready to take them on the chin. We’ve seen what happens those who oppose him. Comparing him to Hitler is something I’m not entirely sure of. It seems a very easily bandied about comparison. From an atrocity perspective I don’t think he’s there yet. I think he’s far more calculating and intelligent than Hitler ever was. Comparisons to Stalin might rise in the coming weeks too. Extremely worrying times ahead for many many people and many nations.
Leo might change his mind after the six one news piece
The kettle calling the pot black. I would trust putin more then I’d trust Leo
Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining NATO saying that there would be military implications for them if they did….
@Charles Coughlan: Ukraines downfall was they are not a NATO member. Finland and Sweeden should sign up immediately. Its the only way they can ensure their own safety. There’s no way they could trust Russia after this.
As we view the horror on TV and social media of the population of Ukraine. Where and when are the demonstrations in this country to protest against this war.?
@Eamonn Tierney: What use would it be? Putin doesn’t care what Irish citizens say.
@Eamonn Tierney: ‘Shame! Shame! Shame!’: Hundreds block road at large protest at Russian Embassy in Dublin https://jrnl.ie/5693821
@Eamonn Tierney: what’s a load of waffely virtue signaling going to achieve.
If putin is like Hitler, then Leo is Ireland answer to Kim philbe a leaker of documents
I wonder would the Dragi be as worried about Gucci loafer sales to Russia if Finland was invaded rather than Ukraine?
Varadkar should raise a brigade to help NATO his party have a history of involvement in other peoples wars – Remember Spain in the 1930s. Might I suggest Blue shirts and Rainbow Flags.
@Hugh McCann: brilliant. Did you think of that all by yourself?
I was told before there was a lovely golf course next to the Russian Embassy. Nothing to do with the new basement.
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