Resolution on Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine

The European Parliament adopted by 504 votes to 26, with 36 abstentions, a resolution on Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR groups and Members.

Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, bears special political responsibility for maintaining peace and security in the world, but has persistently been violating the principles of the UN Charter through its aggressive actions against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. A successful Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in early September 2022 led to Russia losing a significant part of the territories it had occupied in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and other regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. This liberation has led to the discovery of new evidence of the serious human rights violations and war crimes committed by Russian forces and their proxies, such as mass graves with more than 440 bodies in Izyum.

The international community continues to support Ukraine with modern equipment, ammunition, training and intelligence sharing, the latest being the US Congress recently passing a bill which will provide more than USD 12.3 billion in assistance.

Parliament recalled the EU’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders. It condemned in the strongest possible terms the unjustified, unprovoked and illegal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and called on Russia to immediately stop the war and withdraw all its forces and proxy forces from all internationally recognised territories belonging to Ukraine. It called on all countries and international organisations to unequivocally condemn Russia’s war of aggression and its attempts to acquire territory by force and through its sham referendums.

While welcoming the courage of the Ukrainian people defending their country and European values, Parliament urged the EU and other countries supporting Ukraine to increase massively their military assistance, particularly in areas requested by the Ukrainian government. Hesitant Member States are called on to provide their fair share of the military assistance needed to help shorten the war.

The resolution called for further sanctions in the banking field and on any high-tech products and strategic goods. Members called for an immediate and full embargo on Russian imports of fossil fuels and uranium, and for the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines to be completely abandoned, in order to stop financing Putin’s war machine with EU money. A further ban is called for on the purchase, import and transport of titanium, aluminium, copper, nickel, palladium, rhodium, and raw and processed diamonds from Russia or through Russia to the EU, and on imports of iron and steel products originating in Russia or exported from Russia, including iron ore and semi-finished products, with the aim of reducing Russia’s revenues.

Condemning the mobilisation in Russia, Parliament called for an immediate end to involuntary conscription and an immediate cease to its threats of a nuclear escalation.

Lastly, Member States are urged to step up and treat as a priority the protection of critical European infrastructure, including off‑shore pipelines and cables, and to increase its resilience against external attacks. They should conduct an investigation into the sabotaging of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.