Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle says Council of Europe has role in finding peaceful solution to Ukraine war

Pringle says Council of Europe has role in finding peaceful solution to Ukraine war

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said he believes the Council of Europe has a role to play in finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war.

Deputy Pringle said: “We need the Council of Europe, I believe, to try and sue for a peaceful solution to the war. That needs to be a solution that the people of Ukraine can live with – there is no doubt about that. But I believe that the US and Russia are the only two countries that are benefitting from the war, along with oil-producing Gulf states, as things stand.

“Unfortunately, the Ukrainian people in my view are being sacrificed on the altar of a cold war between NATO and Russia,” he said. The deputy attended the council’s winter plenary session in Strasbourg this week. He is a member of the Unified European Left group in the council.

Deputy Pringle said: “What that solution is I’m not sure, but if we don’t look for one it will never be found. The Council of Europe, I believe, is the only organisation that can credibly negotiate for peace.

“That would be the greatest contribution that the council can make as a body,” he said.

The deputy also said there have been inconsistencies in discussions of events.

Deputy Pringle said: “All the talk of Russia using the UN Security Council to block motions and accountability at the UN is the same tactics that have been used by the US, UK and France over the years. Indeed, they have blocked the Security Council taking action at least 80% of the time since the 1970s.”

He said: “It is sad to say that we are aligning and quoting favourably that bastion of peace and the rights of man, NATO, who clearly look after everyone’s interests provided that they are white, European or North American.”

Deputy Pringle said: “There is no doubt that the invasion and illegal war by the Russian Federation is totally wrong and should be opposed on all sides. There is a need for all forms of aggression to be highlighted and brought to justice.

“The people of Ukraine did not ask for or pursue this war.

“While there is no mechanism to prosecute Russians for the war because they have not recognised the International Criminal Court, it is important to mark our opposition to the way it is being conducted,” he said.