Ireland's approval of weapons training in Ukraine is a 'nail in the coffin of neutrality'

Ukrainian soldier attends military exercise near Chasovy Yar in Donetsk region Photo: JOSE COLON/ANADOLU VIA GETTY

Neutral Ireland accused of hiding after before it became known, he would train Ukrainian troops in the use of weapons.

The move, which was not mentioned in previous public statements by the Irish government about its role in the current EU training mission, threatens to undermine the country's long-standing position on military neutrality.

Dublin initially said in February that it would provide about 30 men to train Ukrainian troops in «mine clearance, combat medicine and other non-lethal aids» as part of the bloc's overall security and defense policy.

But in notable numbers In the past This month, the Cabinet quietly approved a memorandum that would allow troops to be trained in combat skills, including marksmanship, Irish media reported this week.

«The final nail in the coffin»

Critics have accused the government of deliberately covering up the decision, in contrast to previous comments by officials emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the support being provided.

Paul Murphy, MP for the Left People Before Profit-Solidarity alliance. , said officials chose to «not disclose to the public the exact nature of the training.»

Hermann Kelly, President of the Euroskeptic Irish Freedom Party, said the move was «the final nail in the coffin of even the claim to Irish military neutrality» .

Infantry training in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Photo: DIEGO HERRERA CARCEDO/ANADOLU VIA GETTY. The government insists it is not impartial about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is backing Kyiv's attempt to resist the offensive by providing medical supplies, armored vehicles, fuel and other non-lethal supplies.

Although not a member of the NATO military alliance, Dublin also plays a role in the US-led Ramstein Group, which coordinates the current supply of military assistance to Ukraine.

“Militarily neutral, but not politically neutral”

Ministry Defense said the decision to expand the offer to train Ukrainian troops «does not conflict» with Ireland's military neutrality.

«Providing soldiers with basic military training, including guidance and drill instruction, does not affect this policy of military neutrality,» — said the representative of the ministry.

«Ireland is neutral militarily, but not politically, with respect to Ukraine in the face of an illegal and immoral Russian invasion that violates the UN Charter,» they added.

Colm Brophy, MP for the ruling Fine Gael coalition party, stated that the decision to train was made as part of «recognition of our military neutrality and recognition of our political support for Ukraine.»

Rising tensions with Israel

This revelation came as Ukraine threatened to ban Jewish pilgrims from visiting the holy site of Uman in central Ukraine as part of its growing animosity with Israel.

Kyiv accused the government of Benjamin Netanyahu of conducting large-scale deportations of Ukrainians and leaking confidential details of meetings between the Ramstein military group and Russia.

For many years, Orthodox Jews from Israel and other countries flocked to Uman in large numbers for religious holidays.

Ukraine's announcement will jeopardize Hasidic Jewish plans for Rosh Hashanah, the main Jewish holiday next month.

«The government of Ukraine will not tolerate the humiliation of its citizens when entering Israel,» Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Kornichuk said. to Israel, it said in a statement on Sunday.

He said about 10% of Ukrainian tourists are being deported from the country without explanation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, a Jew, raised the issue at his weekly briefing to the nation, vowing to “stand up for the rights of the citizens of Ukraine.”

Earlier this month, a Ukrainian Defense Ministry source told the Kyiv Post that there was “a real danger that information being discussed with Israel “likely will fall into the hands of the aggressor state.”

Ukrainian officials may terminate the visa waiver scheme for Israelis, which allows them to stay in the country for three months.

Reportedly, they also lobbied allies to exclude Israel from future Ramstein meetings.