Ukrainian parliament designates Russia as aggressor state, 'DPR' and 'LPR' as terrorist organizations, calls on international community to do the same
The Verkhovna Rada has approved a document designating Russia as an aggressor state, and has urged foreign states and international organizations to do the same.
The parliament also supported designating the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as terrorist organizations.
A total of 271 of 289 registered for the vote supported the decision.
"The Verkhovna Rada recognizes Russian Federation as an aggressor state and urges international partners of Ukraine to not permit crimes against humanity that have been committed from the launch of the Russian aggression against Ukraine to go without punishment," reads the parliamentary statement, announced by Chairperson of the Committee for Foreign Affairs Hanna Hopko (Samopomich faction) during a plenary session.
According to the statement, the Ukrainian parliament recognizes Russia as an aggressor state which supports terrorism and blocks the work of the UN Security Council, and which endangers international peace and security.
The Ukrainian parliament has urged the country’s international partners to designate the 'Donetsk People's Republic' and the 'Luhansk People's Republic' as terrorist organizations.
Furthermore, the parliament has asked international partners to increase pressure on Russia, "including through new sectoral [sic] sanctions so as to stop Russia aggression and make the Russian leadership stick to all conditions of the Minsk agreements, to halt the illegal occupation of Crimea, to release all hostages and Ukrainian citizens illegally detained on Russia territory, including PACE delegate MP Nadia Savchenko."
The Ukrainian parliament has also asked PACE to restrict the powers of the Russian Federation until Russia meets the demands of international democratic society.
The parliament also asked international partners to render military aid to Ukraine, to strengthen its defense capacities, to provide humanitarian aid for civilians and internally displaced persons, and to restore infrastructure in Donbas.
After the vote, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Hroisman is to sign the document.
