Two Irish MEPs have voted against a European Parliament's resolution which condemned Russia's violence in Ukraine and called for the speeding up of granting EU status to Ukraine.
Mick Wallace and Clare Daly were among the 13 MEPs to reject the resolution, which condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Russia's "illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression" against Ukraine.
The motion also demanded that Russia "immediately terminate" all military activities in Ukraine.
The resolution was approved by 637 votes in favour.
In a joint statement, Mr Wallace and Ms Daly explained their rationale, writing: "Our position on today's Resolution on Russian aggression against Ukraine, and why we must vote against. There is no military solution. No to Russia's war in Ukraine; no to military escalation on the European continent. Dialogue and peace is the only way forward..
"We are opposed to war, and we are opposed to this resolution."
They continued: "We ran for election and were elected on a platform of opposing war, advocating for peace and pushing for progressive climate action. We have consistently opposed militarisation of the European Union, the expansion of NATO, and the erosion of Ireland's neutrality within the EU's common defence structures.
"We have always viewed these processes as part of a global military escalation taking place over the last few decades, and which runs the risk of leading to a general conflict.
"Our stance is in the tradition of Irish neutrality and international support of peace."
They concluded: "We will continue to oppose both Russian aggression and the militarisation of Europe, which are not in the interests of Ukrainians, Russians, Europeans, or anyone else."
