Status: 01/30/2022 01:37 am
After protests by Irish fishermen, Russia has announced that it intends to move a planned naval maneuver off the southwest coast of Ireland. According to Russian Ambassador Filatow, the decision was a “sign of good will”.
After sharp protests in Dublin, Russia wants to move planned naval maneuvers off the south-west coast of Ireland. The exercises would now be held outside Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the Russian embassy in Dublin said in a letter posted to Facebook by Ambassador Yuri Filatov. The goal is “not to impede fishing activities,” it said. Filatov called the decision a “sign of good will” by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Irish Times newspaper reported.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney wrote on Twitter that he had received a corresponding letter from Moscow. And further: “I welcome this answer.”
Fishermen wanted to disrupt maneuvers
Originally, the maneuvers planned for February 3rd to 8th were to take place off the southwest coast of Ireland. Irish fishermen had previously announced that they wanted to disrupt the military exercise planned around 240 kilometers off the coast of Cork.
Up to 60 boats were ready to fish in the area, which although in international waters is part of what is known as Ireland’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone. The area is considered extremely rich in fish.
Events in Ukraine in focus
At the beginning of the week, Irish Foreign Minister Coveney spoke out clearly against the Russian military exercises. Although his country could not prevent the maneuvers. But he made it clear to the Russian ambassador in Ireland that they were “not welcome”. Against the background of what is happening “with and in Ukraine” it is not the time to increase military activities and tensions, Coveney said.
Moscow’s latest decision was seen by observers as a rare concession amid rising tensions over Russian troop buildups near Ukraine.
Russia demands security guarantees from the West
The West fears a possible invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin denied this and demanded security guarantees from the USA and NATO. The alliance and the USA recently rejected in writing core demands by Russia for a rejection of Ukraine’s NATO membership and a ban on the stationing of NATO weapons near Russian borders.