The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has confirmed the country's course towards integration into the European Union and approved initial steps in this direction.

A total of 252 MPs out of the 345 registered in the session hall voted for such a resolution on Thursday.

Verkhovna Rada Chairman and acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said that the government had asked the parliament to adopt this resolution.

"The Verkhovna Rada recommends that the acting president call on the EU to immediately use all available levers of influence with respect to Russia due to its actions aimed against peace, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine," reads the resolution.

The parliament also authorized Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on behalf of Ukraine as soon as possible.

"The course for European integration has been completely restored," Turchynov said after the decision was made.