Statement by the MFA of Ukraine on a European Parliament's resolution on the situation in Ukraine and the state of play of EU-Russia relations of September 18, 2014

Ukraine welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution adopted on 18 September, which expressed unequivocal commitment to the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of our country, and its right to make a free European choice.

The European Parliament’s resolution calls a spade a spade – from condemning Russia for waging an undeclared “hybrid war” against Ukraine to the statement that the declared ceasefire is persistently violated by regular Russian troops and terrorists, and is used for the rearrangement and increase of their fighting ability.

It is important that despite the politically motivated trade restrictions Russia adopted against the EU, the European Parliament calls for further increasing pressure on Russia and confirms the position that the international community will not recognise the illegal annexing of Crimea and the attempts at creating quasi-republics in Donbas.

We urge Russia to heed the signals of the European Parliament. As stated in the resolution, the relationship between the EU and Russia will return to normal only when Russia respects the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine.

We are also grateful to the European Parliament, which in its new composition has confirmed a European perspective of Ukraine that pursuant to Article 49 TEU.