British Foreign Office condemns Putin’s decision on simplified issuance of Russian passports in Donbas

British Foreign Office condemns Putin’s decision on simplified issuance of Russian passports in Donbas

Ukrinform
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office condemns the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign a decree on the issuance of Russian passports to residents of occupied Donbas under a simplified procedure.

This is underscored in the statement of the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office on the decree of Russian President Putin on the issuance of Russian passports to residents of occupied Donbas under a simplified procedure.

“The UK condemns President Putin’s decision to sign a decree making it easier for Ukrainian citizens living in non-government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine to receive Russian passports,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

This step is the latest in a pattern of Russian behaviour aimed at threatening Ukraine’s security and sovereignty, and undermining its territorial integrity, he noted.

According to the spokesperson, Russia should focus on implementing the Minsk Agreements rather than creating further obstacles to the re-integration of these communities into Ukraine.

“Russian officials have sought to justify this move [on a simplified procedure for issuing passports] by citing humanitarian concerns. Yet the communities they claim to support are suffering the consequences of a conflict started and fuelled by Russia and its proxies. Rather than creating further obstacles to the re-integration of these communities into Ukraine, Russia should focus on implementing the Minsk Agreements, including the requirement to ensure safe access, delivery, storage, and distribution of humanitarian assistance,” the statement reads.

The spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office underscored that the UK would continue to work with its international partners in addressing the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.

As he added, the UK increased funding by £2.8 million for humanitarian support to the country as well as £3.5 million for further peacebuilding activities, including supporting conflict-affected populations and helping to address gender-based violence.

Earlier, British Ambassador to Ukraine Judith Gough said that Russia’s decision to grant expedited citizenship to Ukrainians in Donbas was another brazen attempt to destabilize Ukraine.

As reported, on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the Decree “On Defining the Categories of Persons Entitled to Apply for Citizenship of the Russian Federation under Simplified Procedure for Humanitarian Purposes.”

In particular, the decree states that the residents of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine have the right to apply for acquiring the citizenship of the Russian Federation under a simplified procedure.

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