Stefanchuk calls on Europe to strengthen sanctions against Russia

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk said this at a meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas in Kyiv on Thursday, Ukrinform reports, citing the press service of the Ukrainian parliament.

Stefanchuk noted that this visit on Ukraine's Knowledge Day is symbolic, because Schinas is in charge of the humanitarian sphere in Europe.

"While Ukrainian soldiers are defending Ukrainian land, Europe should think every day about strengthening sanctions. Energy embargo, recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and expelling Russia from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including it in the FATF blacklist, a complete ban on Russian media in Europe, a complete visa ban. There is a lot to work on. And I am glad that European politicians are in solidarity with this," Stefanchuk said.

He said that in order to stop the aggressor, Ukraine needs Europe's help, especially in increasing sanctions pressure.

According to the parliament's press service, the main topics of the meeting were the consequences of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including the observance of human rights, the genocide of the Ukrainian people, and war crimes committed by the terrorist state.

"Russia violates all recognized laws and rules of warfare. We witness war crimes committed by the Russian Federation every day. Civilians die every day and civilian infrastructure is destroyed, which has nothing to do with military facilities," he said.

He also reported on the humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied territories, where the Russian invaders use all possible methods to force the population to cooperate.

"Today, Ukraine records persecution by the Russian occupiers of Ukrainian educators who refuse to cooperate with them, attempts to introduce education in the Russian language, forced deportation of citizens," Stefanchuk said.