Russia: EU shows its commitment to Ukraine by extending sanctions - Hoofdinhoud
Following the decision taken by the Council to extend the validity of sanctions over actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, until March 2016, MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, The Netherlands) ALDE Group' spokesman on Russia and Ukraine said:
"As long as Putin supports the separatist violence in Eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea, the sanctions must be prolonged.”
ALDE MEP Kaja Kallas (The Estonian Reform Party), Vice Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, added:
"Prolonging the sanctions against Russia is absolutely necessary until we see an improvement in Russia's behaviour in Ukraine and while Crimea remains annexed. It is the duty of EU to express clear opposition to lifting sanctions against Russia before clear conditions are met."
ALDE Group Vice President, Petras Auštrevičius (Liberal's Movement of Lithuania) expressed his worries about the situation of Tatars in Crimea:
"This is the only right decision, which makes the EU's position stronger. Non-recognition of Crimea's occupation and annexation is the basis of the EU's moral and principled stance. Unfortunately, the rights of the Crimean Tatars are gradually worsening."
Tomorrow it will be one year since both European Parliament and Ukrainian Parliament ratified the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement. Considered to be a historic moment, the ratification of this document deepens political association and economic integration between the EU and Ukraine and provides for mutual free market access.
As of today, 26 out of 28 European Union member states have already ratified the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Greece and Cyprus are expected to do the same by the end of this year.