Sinn Féin MEPs have a chance to reverse their shameful voting record on Russia at a key vote in Brussels tomorrow, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has said.
An extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament will take place on 24th February to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. During the session, MEPs will vote on a €90 billion loan package for Kyiv and on strengthening sanctions against Russia.
Earlier this month in Strasbourg, Sinn Féin MEPs voted against the support package for Ukraine. Tomorrow, they will again be asked to back continued and increased EU financial assistance in response to Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine.
The motion includes a call for “continued and increased EU and Member State humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in response to the acute humanitarian situation caused by Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical civilian infrastructure.”
MEP Maria Walsh said:
“Four years on from Russia’s brutal invasion, tomorrow’s vote for Sinn Féin MEPs should be simple: stand with Ukraine or stand aside. You cannot claim to back Ukraine at home and vote against Ukraine in Brussels.
“Sinn Féin politicians protest, they make speeches and they post online. On paper, you would be forgiven for believing they support an end to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. Yet their voting records tell a very different story. Their record is hypocritical, shameful and completely populist.
“This anti-EU stance from Sinn Féin is nothing new – the Party has lobbied for a No vote in every European treaty put to the Irish public. The Party also actively campaigned against Ireland joining the European Union.
“While Sinn Féin MEPs have voted against support for Ukraine in the past, tomorrow offers them an opportunity to change course. They have a chance to vote in favour of peace in Europe, sanctions against Russia and ultimately reassure the Irish public that they stand with Kyiv over the Kremlin.
“To have Irish MEPs voting against support for Ukraine is an embarrassment to our country and undermines the efforts of our Government and people to date. I strongly urge all Irish MEPs to vote in favour of this package. I hope I will be pleasantly surprised by a change of heart from Sinn Féin MEPs in the chamber tomorrow.”