The EP deputies urge the governing institutions of the European Union to prepare sanctions that will punish those close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and provide for the disconnection of the Russian Federation from the global SWIFT payment system.So far Kiev does not see signs of an imminent Russian offensive / REUTERS

The European Parliament called on the Russian Federation to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border and on the governing institutions of the European Union to prepare serious economic sanctions.

As evidenced by the data on the website of the European Parliament, 548 deputies voted for the relevant resolution, 69 were against and 54 abstained.

In particular, the resolution condemns the large build-up of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. MEPs demand that the government in Moscow immediately withdraw its forces and stop threatening neighboring countries.

At the same time, the EP deputies emphasize that the concentration of military power threatens not only peace, stability and security in Europe, but is also an instrument for obtaining political concessions from the West at the expense of Ukraine.

In addition, given Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO, the document emphasizes that “the choice of any country in relation to alliances should not be subject to approval by third countries.” For this reason, the resolution rejects Russia’s attempts to include some countries in its “sphere of influence” in order to determine their future.

It also said that the EU should be ready to send a decisive warning to the Russian Federation that military actions against Ukraine will be unacceptable, and the Russian Federation will pay a high political and economic price for them.

MEPs say the EU must remain ready to urgently negotiate serious economic and financial sanctions against the Russian government in order to eliminate immediate threats, rather than expect another invasion.

They argue that the new sanctions should include punishment for the Russian military involved in planning a possible invasion, as well as punishment for those around them and oligarchs from the orbit of President Vladimir Putin and their families. The sanctions should include the freezing of financial and physical assets in the EU, a ban on entry and disconnection of Russia from the global SWIFT payment system. Also, restrictive measures should be directed against sectors important for the Russian economy and lead to a disruption in funding for intelligence services and the Russian army.

MEPs are also demanding that the EU take steps to reduce the impact of energy imports from the Russian Federation and demonstrate stronger solidarity with Ukraine on the energy issue. According to the MEPs, this should be done through closer connection of the energy infrastructure of the EU and Ukraine.

At the same time, the resolution makes a strong call for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline not to be put into operation.

In addition, the EP calls on Russia and the militants it supports in eastern Ukraine to abide by the ceasefire. They also call on the Russian Federation to constructively participate in the negotiations in the “Normandy format” and within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.

At the same time, the EP deputies called on the Russian Federation to fulfill its international obligations in accordance with the Minsk Agreements and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

According to foreign and Ukrainian intelligence services, which have noted the alarming movements of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, Russia may invade the territory controlled by Ukraine in the winter of 2022.

(c)UNIAN 2021