The European Parliament has supported the Ukrainian leadership in realizing their right to the restoration of power and self-defense, warning Russia against invasion under the pretext of escalating the situation created by armed pro-Russian separatists.
This is stated in a European Parliament resolution adopted during a plenary meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday.
“[The EP] expresses its full support for and solidarity with the
government of Ukraine as it seeks to re-establish authority in the
occupied cities, welcomes the restrained and measured manner in which
the Ukrainian government has dealt with the current phase of the crisis
so far, and recalls that the Ukrainian authorities have the full right
to use all necessary measures, including the right to self-defense as
defined in Article 51 of the UN Charter,” reads the resolution.
In this regard, the European Parliament warned Russia against “using
Ukraine’s legitimate right to defend its territorial integrity as a
pretext to launch a full-scale military invasion.”
In addition, the EP “condemns in the strongest possible terms the
escalating destabilization and provocations in eastern and southern
Ukraine; rejects any preparation for illegal ‘Crimea-like’ referendums.”
“[The EP] warns that the increasing destabilization and sabotage
caused by pro-Russian armed, trained and well-coordinated separatists
led by Russian special forces could be used as a false pretext for
Russia to intervene militarily, prevent the presidential elections and
force federalization as a precursor to the partition of Ukraine,” reads
the resolution.
In addition, the EP also welcomed the recent resolution of the
Ukrainian parliament calling for the immediate disarmament of all
illegal self-defense forces, and looks forward to its implementation.
Referring to the international aspect, the EP welcomed the European
Council’s readiness to assist Ukraine in the field of civilian
security-sector reform and provide support for the police and the rule
of law, and to examine all options, including a possible CSDP mission,
as well as the possibility of an EU monitoring mission.
The EP also welcomed the signing of the political chapters of the
Association Agreement and the subsequent adoption of the unilateral
trade measures; calls for the signing of the full AA/DCFTA as soon as
possible and before the expiry of the unilateral trade measures.
“[The EP] calls on the Council to authorize the Commission
immediately to speed up visa liberalization with Ukraine, so as to
advance along the path of introducing a visa-free regime, following the
example of Moldova; calls, in the meantime, for the immediate
introduction of temporary, very simple, low-cost visa procedures at EU
and Member State level,” the EP said.
At the same time, the EP welcomed the announcement by the Ukrainian
government of an ambitious economic and social reform agenda and
highlighted the vital importance of its swift implementation in order to
stabilize and overcome the country’s critical financial situation.
“[The EP] welcomes the decision of the international financial
institutions and the EU to provide Ukraine with substantial short ‑ and
long-term financial aid; recalls the need to organize and coordinate an
international donor conference, which should be convened by the
Commission and take place as soon as possible,” reads the document.
However, the EP supported the conditionality laid down by the EU
regarding much-needed structural reforms that will help create more
favorable conditions for sustainable economic growth, improve the
management of public finances, develop the social safety net and tackle
corruption; calls for transparency in the spending of EU funds and
effective monitoring by the Commission.
The EP also encouraged Ukraine to continue to move ahead with its
course of political reform, in particular constitutional reform, which
should be the subject of a broad, in-depth discussion among all
components of Ukrainian society.
“[The EP] welcomes the will of the Ukrainian Government to implement
its commitments to ensure the representative nature of governmental
structures, reflecting regional diversity, to ensure the full protection
of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, to align the
country’s anti-discrimination legislation with EU standards, to
investigate all human rights violations and acts of violence and to
fight extremism,” reads the resolution.
In addition, the EP supported the efforts of the Ukrainian
government, working in close cooperation with the OSCE and the Council
of Europe, to ensure due respect for the legitimate rights of the
Russian-speaking population and other cultural, national and linguistic
minority groups, in line with the provisions of the European Charter for
Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities.
However, the EP reiterated its call for the setting-up of an
independent commission to investigate the Kyiv shootings and the tragic
events on Maidan, “with the inclusion of a strong international
component and under the supervision of the Council of Europe
International Advisory Panel.”
