The Foreign Affairs Minister will today warn his European counterparts about Russia’s plan to engage in military exercises off Irish waters.

Russia has informed Ireland that it plans to carry naval exercises in waters around 240km off the southwest coast in early February.

The area is within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but not her territorial waters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said states are entitled to carry out exercises in other state’s EEZ and Russia informed Ireland about its plans via standard procedures.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has “raised a number of concerns” with the Russian authorities about the plans, “in light of the current political and security environment” in Europe.

The Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney will brief the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the situation.

It comes as the US ordered its staff and their families to leave its embassy in Kyiv due to fears Russian plans to invade.

Russian has moved around 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine – but insists it has no plans to invade.

Ireland is advising Irish citizens not to travel to Ukraine unless it is essential. It is also urging Irish citizens living in the country to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv.

Minister Coveney said he will use today’s meeting to “reiterate Ireland’s full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and will call again on Russia to de-escalate tensions and engage constructively in dialogue.”

Last summer, Irish authorities were monitoring the actions of a Russian ship spotted just outside Irish waters.

It is believed the ship was examining undersea internet cables.