Parliament of Lithuania adopts resolution in support of Ukraine

11.12.2018 15:10

Ukrinform

The Parliament of Lithuania has adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine, urging to expand the sanctions against Russia after Ukrainian ships and sailors had been captured in the Kerch Strait area.

"The adopted resolution strongly condemns the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the aggressive unilateral actions, which are a flagrant violation of bilateral and multilateral agreements and international law and a threat to the entire region and European security, and calls for immediate action," reads the wording of the resolution, posted on the Parliament’s website.

The resolution underscores that Russia has crossed the red line by attacking the Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait area: "The Lithuanian Seimas calls for a radical change in the strategy of the West for deterring the Russian aggression, for specific measures that Russia must take, and for introduction of much more effective and wider sanctions if such steps are not taken."

It is proposed to put forward several conditions and requirements: the Kerch Strait should be overseen by the UN; the territories of Ukraine, which are occupied by Russia, should be under the authority of the UN peacekeeping mission; all imprisoned Ukrainian citizens - both political prisoners and prisoners of war - should be released.

"If Russia fails to meet these requirements in the near future or vetoes these decisions, it is proposed to impose full-fledged sanctions, including on the Russian gas, oil and financial sectors, and disconnect it from the SWIFT system," the resolution says.

The Seimas supports the presence of NATO in the Black Sea and calls on EU and NATO member states to expand and deepen cooperation with Ukraine, help strengthen its defense capability and implement the reforms so that Ukraine would be properly prepared for launch of the talks on joining the EU by 2027.

The resolution contains an appeal to the EU and NATO member states, as well as UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the parliaments with a request to take all measures to stop Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and militarization of the Sea of Azov region and to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Earlier, Lithuania imposed the national sanctions on 20 people involved in the attack on Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Strait area.