"Putin's regime creates atrocities": The European Parliament recognized Russia as a sponsor of terrorism
The document was supported by 494 European politicians, opposed to 58, and 44 abstained. "After the atrocities committed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin against the civilians of Ukraine, deputies of the European Parliament recognized Russia as a state-existence of terrorism," the release said. Russian troops attack residential areas and civilian infrastructure, which is why thousands of Ukrainians were killed, deputies stated.
"Serious violations of international and humanitarian law are equated with acts of terror and are military crimes," the European Parliament said. The text of the resolution refers to arbitrary executions of aggressors in the occupied territories without trial and investigation, abduction, acts of sexual violence, torture and other atrocities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The facts of massacres in Bucha, Irpen, Izium and Lymann, attacks on the Drama Theater in Mariupol and the railway station in Kramatorsk are emphasized separately. The authors of the document state that Russia violates the principles of the UN Charter. Her troops caused a humanitarian crisis in Mariupol and destroyed 95% of the city. The invaders deprive Ukrainians with access to gas, electricity, water and communications, as well as basic goods and services.
Parliamentarians urge members of the European Union to develop a legal framework for defining terrorism and develop significant sanctions for them. The MEPs called for the creation of conditions for international isolation of the Russian Federation. This also applies to Russia's membership in international organizations (UN Security Council). The resolution contains a call to reduce diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.
Contacts with its official representatives at all levels should be minimized, and Russian state institutions, science and culture centers, as well as the organization and association of the Russian diaspora operating under the wing of Russian diplomatic missions and promoting state propaganda should be closed and banned in the European Union.
The European Parliament calls for working on the 9th package of sanctions against Russia because of numerous rocket strokes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the decision of the European Parliament on the recognition of the Russian Federation by the state-existence of terrorism. "Russia needs to be isolated at all levels and held accountable to put an end to its many years of terrorism in Ukraine and the world," he wrote on Telegram.
Andrews Kubilus, the Lithuanian Mestoupus spoke about the lack of unity in the views of politicians on the formulations in the document before agreeing. The White House is believed that Russia's recognition by the state-existence of terrorism will not help to hold the Kremlin accountable, DW notes. "If most of the MEPs support the relevant resolution, it will not have legal consequences. Especially since the European Parliament has a limited impact on EU foreign policy," the newspaper said.