Paul Murphy: Condemns Putin, Defends Neutrality Against Escalation
Paul Murphy spoke in a debate on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, condemning the attack as an imperialist invasion and calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. He urged that refugees from Ukraine be welcomed into the EU and Ireland and rejected efforts to label opponents of escalation as pro-Putin.
Condemnation of the invasion
Paul Murphy offered solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people, describing them as victims of war crimes carried out by Putin's army and saying there is no justification for the invasion.
Call to welcome refugees
He called for all refugees fleeing from Ukraine to be welcomed into the EU and into Ireland, emphasizing humanitarian response as part of the immediate priorities.
Rejection of 'pro-Putin' smears
Murphy criticised what he called a campaign by large sections of the establishment to paint critics of escalation as pro-Putin, calling that label a "disgusting slur" aimed at silencing opponents of war and undermining Ireland's neutrality.
Historical opposition to Putin
He pointed to the left's record of opposing Putin in earlier instances - opposing the invasion of Chechnya, protesting the jailing of Pussy Riot and the repression of LGBTQ activists - and noted that current street protesters in Russia are themselves attacked by a Putin ally in the Duma.
Concerns about escalation, sanctions and omissions
Murphy warned against escalation and the risk of a spiral towards all-out war between nuclear powers. He said opposing sanctions does not equal support for Putin because sanctions are already devastating the lives of ordinary Russian people, and he criticised the one-sided nature of the motion for making no mention of NATO expansion, rights of minorities in Ukraine, or a commitment to Ireland's continued non-membership of NATO.
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I want to extend our deepest solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people. They are now the victims of war crimes carried out by Putin's army. There is no justification for this imperialist invasion. Russian troops should be withdrawn immediately. And all refugees fleeing from Ukraine should be welcomed into the EU and into Ireland. I want to address the campaign from large sections of the establishment to paint anyone who opposes escalation and the risk of nuclear war as in some way pro-Putin. It is a disgusting slur designed to silence opponents of war in order to further the plans on display in this debate today to undermine Ireland's neutrality. The idea that we are in some way soft on Putin is patently ridiculous. Look at the record. Who condemned Putin's horrendous invasion of Chechnya? While Tony Blair rolled out the red carpet for Putin, during that war it was the socialist left who opposed it. Who spoke out against Putin's jailing of pussy riot and the repression of LGBTQ activists? It was the left. Who is on the streets in Russia in protest against the war right now? A Putin ally in the Duma has called them, quote, Trotskyists and left scum. Of course, it is much broader than the organised left. I want to be very clear. It is not pro-Putin to say we do not want an escalation and to point out the dangers of a spiral towards an all-out war between nuclear powers. It is not pro-Putin to say we are against sanctions which already are having a devastating effect on the lives of ordinary Russian people. It is not pro-Putin to oppose the one-sided nature of this motion, with no mention of NATO expansion into Eastern Europe, no mention of the rights of minorities in Ukraine and no commitment to Ireland's continued non-membership of NATO. Thank you. Thank you.
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