The Russian Ambassador has been summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney issued the summons yesterday after the Kremlin banned senior Government ministers - including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste - from entering Russia.

Announcing the move yesterday, the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the government of “fuelling Russophobic hysteria in Irish society”.

It said ministers had been “conducting an aggressive anti-Russian propaganda campaign” on the orders of the EU and banned 52 ‘key representatives of leadership’ in Ireland from entering Russia.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.ilatov

Speaking last night, Ireland's Ambassador to the UN Fergal Mythen said: "Ireland will not apologise for being on the side of international law".

“Millions of people across Ukraine are tonight grappling with the prospect of a dark and freezing winter without reliable access to water, heat, electricity and other basic services,” he said.

“The most vulnerable in Ukrainian society - the internally displaced children and the elderly - face a particularly precarious future.

“Women, already disproportionately impacted by the war are once again put in unsafe and precarious situations.”

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach told members of his party last night that the Government would not be deflected by Russian propaganda.