The Taoiseach has said Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an outrageous moral breach of international law.
Micheál Martin said EU leaders will meet later to adopt the most severe package of sanctions against Russia it has ever considered.
He said it would aim to hit Vladimir Putin and his henchmen where it hurts most by targeting their assets and banks.
The Taoiseach said the EU couldn't stand by on a conflict that could spread beyond the borders of Ukraine.
A dark day for Europe
WIT's Lecturer in International Politics says we're now living in a transformative time for Europe.
Gerry Arthurs described the situation to Damien Tiernan on Déise Today this morning:
"This is a truly dark day for Europe. Make no mistake, we're living in a transformative time here.
"Nobody can make predictions about how this is going to play out but we can be sure that there's going to be lengthy consequences for Europe - many casualties.
"It's going to be the biggest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War and unfortunately, it's being driven by Vladimir Putin who is a creature of the Cold War and sees himself as an historic figure, trying to right the wrongs of the collapse of the Soviet Union."
Arthurs describes President Putin as being "driven by political and historical forces" that won't be convinced by logic, or even economic sanctions.
"[Putin] is driving this but we cannot tell where it's going to end," he says.
Ireland's neutrality
Questions are being asked about just what Ireland can do in this situation and whether or not our neutrality could be tested, especially given recent Russian action off our shores.
It's something that Gerry Arthurs says needs to be discussed:
"I think Ireland is due a mature discussion and reflection about the nature of neutrality in the modern world, where we can be subject to the attacks - like cyber attacks, which we saw last year.
"And we have to have a much more mature discussion about whether we can morally stand by as innocents are killed.
"We already saw hundreds of casualties overnight. Can Irish people stand idly by and accept that? Not necessarily by sending in troops but certainly by joining our voices and making sure that the sanctions by the European Union are as strong and as consequential as can be."
However, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has also addressed that matter today.
He claims Ireland won't be neutral on an issue like this:
"Yes, we are a neutral country. Yes, we are not aligned militarily. We are not a member of NATO.
"But we are not neutral on this. This is an act of blatant aggression on a country in Europe, right next door to the European Union, by Russia.
"Ireland is certainly not going to be neutral."
Stay tuned to WLR for the latest on this developing situation and read more Waterford stories here.
