Ukraine crisis: European Parliament calls to hit Russia's finances, nuclear sector
EU sanctions against Russia should stay in place until it changes its aggressive policy in Ukraine, respects the ceasefire, withdraws its troops and stops supporting separatists, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Thursday. MEPs condemn ‘acts of terrorism’ in Ukraine, urge the EU to come up with a plan to counter the Russian ‘information war’ and help Ukraine to carry out reforms, cope with its humanitarian and health emergency and enhance its defence capabilities.
MEPs strongly condemn Russia‘s ‘aggressive and expansionist policy’ and ‘the acts of terrorism and criminal behaviour committed by the separatists and other irregular forces in Eastern Ukraine‘.
They urge the EU Council at its March 2015 meeting to maintain current EU sanctions against Russia and approve ‘benchmarks’ for lifting them. These should include respecting the ceasefire, unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and illegal armed groups, exchanging all prisoners and restoring Ukraine’s control over its whole territory, including Crimea.
In the event of further Russian actions destabilising Ukraine, the Council should broaden the range of sanctions to include the nuclear sector and international financial transactions. Political and diplomatic channels towards Russia must nonetheless stay open, adds the document.
MEPs call on the EU to pay particular attention to the ‘information war’ pursued by Russia and ask the Commission to propose, within two months, a communication strategy to counter the Russian propaganda campaign directed at the EU, its eastern neighbours and Russia itself.
