Irish MEP Mick Wallace claims that only 'full scale war' will satisfy NATO

In a controversial new tweet, the Independent MEP called for the people of Europe to campaign for the abolition of NATO as it “has nothing good to offer anyone that prefers peace to war”.

In his latest tweet, Mr Wallace said: “Only a full scale War between #Russia and #Ukraine would satisfy #NATO - The people of Europe must campaign for the abolition of NATO - It has nothing good to offer anyone that prefers Peace to War.”

The tweet generated a mixed reaction among his followers with one replying: “Mate, we are currently seeing the acute threat that Russia poses to nations within Europe. The NATO is for the Baltic states and (to a lesser degree) Poland the only thing standing between them and Russian aggression.”

Another added: “Russia just invaded a sovereign nation, read the room.”

However, one other agreed: “Look at it from Russia point of view. After Hitler attacked in 1941, the NATO threat in Ukraine to them is very real!”

In a speech to the European Parliament last week, Mr Wallace - an Independent MEP for Ireland South - strongly criticised NATO and the United States, who he accused of "warmongering."

"We have had three months of this farce now and the line between the real and the imaginary is blurred," Mr Wallace said.

However, Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews accused his counterpart of "making excuses for Russia" under the protection of the very democracy it is trying to destroy.

Speaking to RTÉ One's European Parliament Report, Mr Andrews said NATO was "trying to stop a war".

He said: "Mick is trying to fight the last war around Iraq, where NATO and US were using fake information to justify a way. Now Russia is using fake information to try to start a war and we have to call that out at every opportunity."

The Dublin MEP added: "The far-left in the European Parliament (which includes Mr Wallace's speech) and the far-right seem to be reading from the exact same talking points.

"They are making excuses for Russia which is trying to destroy democracy in the EU and they are making those excuses under the protection of the very democracy that Russia is seeking to destroy."

Last night President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to the two regions, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.

Today Russian MPs voted to ratify Putin’s agreements with east Ukraine's separatist republics, a day after the Russian leader recognised their independence and ordered troops to move in.

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, voted to approve Mr Putin's "friendship" deals with Donetsk and Luhansk.

The agreements, published by Russia's lower house of parliament, create a "legal basis" for the presence of the Russian army in the republics.

As part of the deals, both sides agreed to share military bases and jointly protect their borders.

MPs approved the two agreements unanimously - by 400 votes for the deal with Donetsk and 399 for the Luhansk deal after one MP said he did not press the voting button in time.

"This is the only way to protect people, stop the fratricidal war, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and bring peace," the Duma's chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, said in comments published on the parliament's website.

Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, is due to vote on the deals later today.