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11:59 11.06.2025 •
Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuri Filatov
Photo: MFA
Yuri Filatov, the Russian ambassador to Ireland, said governments in the West that support Ukraine’s government are “de facto accomplices” in “terrorist crimes”, quotes ‘The Times’. Irish bureaucrats nervously reacted.
The Irish government will face a “day of reckoning” over its support for Ukraine, the Russian ambassador has warned.
In a statement posted on social media by the Russian embassy, Yuri Filatov criticised the Dublin’s position on the war in Ukraine while claiming that the resistance led by Kyiv had engaged in “barbaric terrorist acts” throughout the conflict.
“Those in the West who support the Zelensky regime are de facto accomplices in these terrorist crimes and should be called out as such. The European governments, including the government of Ireland, who had been applauding [President] Zelensky and co, supplying them with money and weapons and spreading Kiev’s propaganda, share responsibility for the regime’s actions. They should be aware that the day of reckoning will inevitably come,” Filatov said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs hit back at Filatov’s remarks by stating that Ireland and its EU partners had been “unequivocal and steadfast” in their support for Ukraine in its “legitimate right” to self-defence against Russia.
Labour and Fianna Fail rounded on Filatov over his remarks. Duncan Smith, Labour’s spokesman on foreign affairs, said that Simon Harris, the foreign affairs minister, should summon the ambassador and ask him to explain the “incendiary” language used in his remarks.
Micheál Martin, the taoiseach, pledged additional financial support to Ukraine.
“We do need to say more, we do need to spend more and we need to do more. Ireland will contribute more financially on all fronts and in all areas, and will strengthen our commitment on that front,” he said.
In his remarks, Filatov accused the Zelensky regime and Ukrainian special services of using “terrorist methods” during the war. “Reaction from the West? None. No condemnations, no sympathy for the victims, nothing. Only the US secretary of State Marco Rubio in a telephone conversation with the foreign minister Sergey Lavrov offered condolences over that loss of life,” he said.
The Russian Embassy said the remarks were not delivered in person and were posted only on social media.
Asked to clarify the remarks and elaborate on what was meant by the reference to a “day of reckoning”, a spokeswoman said: “Your question is somewhat surprising — the ambassador’s remarks are pretty much self-explanatory.”
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