LONDON, March 6, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Irish troops will not be sent to Ukraine to participate in a "deterrent force", Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Wednesday, but he remained open to involvement in a peacekeeping contingent.

"If a ceasefire develops, or if there's a cessation of hostilities, Ireland has always been open to peacekeeping, but we wouldn't be part of a deterrent force," Martin told reporters at an Irish-British summit in Liverpool.

"They are two different and distinct issues," he insisted.

France and the United Kingdom have said they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to ensure that a possible ceasefire is preserved, with American support.

They have not elaborated on the precise role of these troops.

Last Thursday, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ireland, Martin said he had proposed his country's participation in a peacekeeping mission.

Ireland is not a NATO member, but its army of around 8,500 has often joined international peacekeeping operations -- although its rules for engaging forces are very strict, generally involving self-defence.

But in the face of the current geopolitical upheaval, the Irish government has announced its intention to eliminate a mechanism called "triple lock", which requires the approval of the United Nations for the deployment abroad of its military.

The issue is politically sensitive, with opposition parties considering the triple lock to be a cornerstone of Irish neutrality.

BSS/AFP/FHA/0815 hrs