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Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council condemns violence near Maryinka, insists that Russia sanctions remain

The Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council has condemned the recent escalation of violence by pro-Russian separatists near Maryinka.

This follows from a joint statement of Verkhovna Rada deputy chairman Andriy Parubiy and co-head of Ukraine-NATO Inter-parliamentary Council from NATO Parliamentary Assembly Raynell Andreychuk.

"We also state on necessity to use diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict with Russia, however admitting that these efforts shouldn't undermine both sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as its indefeasible right to determine its own place in the European order. In this relation we condemn a recent escalation of the violence by pro-Russian separatists near Maryinka, which along with attack on Debaltseve is the fiercest violations of the Minsk II agreement," reads the statement which was released on Monday.

According to the statement, "over the same reasons international sanctions must be preserved or even potentially extended until Russia clearly demonstrates its commitment to international law."

The statement also says that Russia must acknowledge that Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine, which are now occupied by Russia-backed separatists, are integral parts of sovereign Ukraine.

"Discrimination and prosecution of political opponents, representatives of definite ethnic groups, namely Crimean Tatars in the occupied territories must be immediately halted," reads the statement.

According to the statement, the Euro-Atlantic community must grant considerable aid to Ukraine for possible military, political and economic reforms so it can efficiently respond to external aggression.

"We make a special stress on a necessity for the Euro-Atlantic society and Ukraine to strengthen mutual cooperation to counteract [the Russian] propaganda campaign and disinformation, which is used by Moscow to weaken Ukrainian statehood, to mislead and split a democratic world," the statement reads.

The Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council also urged Ukraine to fully implement a state program of cooperation with the alliance.

"We insistently welcome Ukraine's implementation of an annual program of cooperation with NATO not just as a way to make relations with NATO deeper, but also because the program will strengthen security of Ukraine and to an essential extend would favor Ukraine's progress in its Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

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