He asked a popular Polish actor, Maciej Stuhr, to go on stage during the show to translate his warning that democracy was 'in grave danger of being lost unless we defend it'. The musician interrupted a concert at Warsaw's National Stadium in Poland on Saturday evening to warn his audience that democracy was under attack worldwide. Singer Sting has denounced the war in Ukraine as 'an absurdity based upon a lie'. Some 104,000 people have arrived in Britain after the government's Ukraine visa schemes were launched in March, including 31,300 under the family scheme, and 72,700 people under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme. Lord Harrington hailed the 'limitless generosity and compassion of the British people', adding: 'I cannot thank the British public enough for their steadfast goodwill in opening their doors to people from Ukraine and welcoming them into their communities.' 'This represents the UK's largest offer of help to people fleeing war since 1945.' The letter is expected to say: 'You have saved lives, given hope, and offered sanctuary to people in desperate need. Ukraine's ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko and Refugees Minister Lord Harrington will send letters to households this week to praise them for contributing to 'the UK's largest offer of help to people fleeing war since 1945'. Sponsors in the UK who have offered to home Ukrainian refugees amid the war will receive a letter of thanks from the Ukrainian and British governments. The letter appears to have been since removed from the website. 'Ireland should rightly be proud of our response to the invasion of Ukraine.' 'It is incumbent on the president of Ireland to now express clearly the strong support of the people of Ireland for the people of Ukraine and that we hold Russia responsible for the war and ongoing barbarism. 'However, the decision to publish the letter on the President's website raises serious questions. 'Mrs Higgins is entitled to her personal opinion and to express it, although I believe that she is totally wrong to try to see an equivalence in the positions of Ukraine and Russia,' said Mr Byrne. She said that fighting would go on until the world persuaded President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to 'agree to a ceasefire and negotiations'.Ĭritics of the letter have suggested Mrs Higgins was drawing an equivalence in the actions of Ukraine and Russia and senators from parties in Ireland's coalition government have voiced concern.įianna Fail senator Malcolm Byrne said the letter was subsequently published on the president of Ireland's official website - a move he described as 'appalling'.

This week, Sabina Higgins wrote a letter to the Irish Times to criticise a previous editorial on the conflict.

Ireland's president Michael D Higgins is facing calls to 'express clearly the strong support' the people of Ireland have for Ukraine after his wife penned a controversial letter on the conflict.

Half life opposing force ending