On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it was “extremely important” to show solidarity with Ukraine. It comes after Ireland’s main opposition party Sinn Fein opposed the 90 billion euro EU loan to Ukraine, comprising 60 billion euro in military funding. (PA Graphics)At the weekend, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said two Sinn Fein MEPs voted against it because “we also know that spending tens of billions more of taxpayers’ money on more and more weaponry is not the way to resolve this conflict”. I think that the happiest person in the world, if the Sinn Fein policy was to be adopted, would be President Putin. “Sinn Fein supports sustained humanitarian, financial and political assistance to Ukraine, including support for reconstruction and the protection of vital public infrastructure and services.”

Source: The Herald February 24, 2026 10:54 UTC