Joint Statement by the Bureau of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee and the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Ukraine
on the latest developments related to and caused by the unprovoked and unjustified war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
Brussels/ Kyiv, 19 August 2022: "Following on from the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC) statements of March, April and June 2022, as well as the PAC final statement and recommendations of 8-9 June 2022 and numerous statements by EU leaders;
Staying fully committed to Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, non-recognition of the occupation of Ukraine's territories starting from 2014 including Crimea, supporting Ukraine's inalienable right to preserve, restore and defend its territorial integrity including the right to adequately respond to every manifestation of terror;
We, the members of the EU-Ukraine PAC Bureau, issued the following joint statement with regard to recent developments related to and caused by the unprovoked and unjustified war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine:
Situation in Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Russia's nuclear blackmail
We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian occupying forces on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the city of Energodar as well as the unprecedented usage of the facilities for launching attacks against Ukrainian forces or for any other military purposes, including as shelter or storage, which not only prevent the safe operation of the plant and its regular control procedures, but also puts in a grave danger the nuclear safety of the European continent and beyond.
[...]Attempts to legalize the occupation of Ukraine's territories
We condemn preparation and holding of any fake referenda in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
We are confident that such acts aimed to legalize occupation, justify further annexation of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions violate both international principles and norms as well as provisions of Ukraine's constitution and applicable legislation.
We declare that any attempts to hold so-called "referenda" in these territories would be considered illegal, null and void by the international community and Ukraine.
[...]Continuous violations of international humanitarian law by the Russian Federation
We severely condemn the cynical terrorist act Russia committed on 29 July by killing >50 Ukrainian prisoners of war by explosion on the territory of the former penal colony of the village of Olenivka.
We demand from the UN and the ICRC, which act as guarantors of the life and health of Ukrainian POWs, to immediately respond to this terrorist act committed by Russia and send its representatives to the village of Olenivka with the inspection missions.
[...]Further restrictive measures including tourist visa ban
We call to impose sanctions, including a ban on entry, arrest and seizure of property and assets of public figures that promote public opinion in Russia in support of Russian aggression against Ukraine, including leading and technical staff of public and private media that spread aggressive propaganda: so-called political experts, influencers, bloggers, artists and musicians, who publicly support the criminal actions of the Russian government and contribute to the large-scale involvement of the Russian population in the commission of war crimes.
[...]Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP