Taoiseach to Russia: ‘Stop unbelievable Ukrainian carnage instead of lecturing Ireland’Mr Martin was responding to Russian ambassador Yuri Filatov’s accusation that the Irish Government was “copy-pasting EU conspiracy theories” Sun, 06 Sep, 2026 – 12:10Donal O’Keeffe
The Russian ambassador to Ireland is in “no position” to lecture the Government about the war in Ukraine, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Mr Martin was responding to Russian ambassador Yuri Filatov’s accusation that the Irish Government was “copy-pasting EU conspiracy theories” regarding an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport that Germany attributed to Russia.
During that incident, which occurred on August 4, a drone carrying an explosive was found near Ukrainian cargo planes at the airport.
Mr Filatov had been summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs for a formal meeting, a move which is traditionally seen in diplomatic circles as a way of rebuking a foreign power.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Claire Byrne on Friday morning, Mr Filatov denied “allegations of any Russian connection to this incident”.
He went on to say that “the Irish Government cannot be treated as a friendly one”, and he added that any attempts by the Irish Defence Forces to board Russian shadow fleet boats would be considered an “act of international piracy”.
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Speaking in Kinsale, where he was turning the sod on an extension to the local community school, Mr Martin said Ireland has always adhered to the multilateral rules-based order.
“We believe in the Charter of the United Nations. We believe that no country should violently attack another country and seek to undermine the territorial integrity of that country and the sovereignty of that country,” he said.
“We are a principle-based country in terms of the international global world. We seek everywhere we go to reduce conflict and so support humanitarian endeavour.”
The Taoiseach said Ireland defends the multilateral rules-based order “as best we can”.
“I would say to Ambassador Filitov that the most important contribution Russia could now make is to stop the war in Ukraine, declare a ceasefire, facilitate negotiations, and stop the unbelievable carnage that is occurring as a result of Russian aggression, primarily.
“So many hundreds of thousands of young men and women have lost their lives on both sides. It is quite shocking the scale of this war, and Russia bears responsibility for that,” he said.
“He is not in a position really to lecture anybody.
“We will work with our partners in the European Union to defend Ukraine and support Ukraine.
“We stand ready to support any peace process or any ceasefire,” Mr Martin said.
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