Simon Coveney's at the Munich Security Conference.
The prospect of war in Ukraine has become an expectation among world leaders, rather than a possibility.
That's according to the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.
Minister Coveney has been meeting international counterparts at the Munich Security Conference.
Glad to meet with @DmytroKuleba at the @MunSecConf and reaffirm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to choose its own foreign and security policy path. That support is unwavering. Diplomacy and dialogue are the only way forward. #MSC2022 pic.twitter.com/VdkpqiQLqn
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 19, 2022
Ukraine's President yesterday called on nations to find a diplomatic solution to de-escalate.
But Minister Coveney says the build-up of troops on the border between Russia and its neighbour is increasingly concerning.
"The view of virtually everybody I've met is that some form of invasion of Ukraine is an expectation, rather than a possibility."
"Obviously there is clear commitment to continue to pursue a diplomatic solution, and also to put a very strong deterrent in place to prevent Russia from making that decision," Minister Coveney said.
"But the expectation and the intelligence that informs that expectation is giving a very negative outlook," he continued.
Meanwhile, the US Vice President has warned that conflict could spread across Europe if Russia invades Ukraine.
Kamala Harris accused Russia of employing a playbook of aggression.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference the US Vice President says America and its NATO allies remain open to serious diplomacy to de-escalate the situation.
