European Parliament calls for transfer of missiles to Ukraine and confiscation of Russian assets
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola (Getty Images)
The European Parliament has passed a resolution in support of Ukraine ahead of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. European lawmakers are urging for arms to be provided to Ukraine for victory.
The resolution was supported by 451 European deputies, with 46 opposed and 49 abstentions. The European Parliament emphasizes that there should be no restrictions on military aid to Ukraine for its victory.
In particular, European lawmakers are calling on EU countries to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition, air defense systems, long-range missiles including TAURUS, Storm Shadow/SCALP, various types of artillery, as well as drones and weapons to counter them.
Additionally, the resolution states that all EU and NATO allies should support Ukraine militarily with no less than 0.25% of their GDP per year. EU countries are also urged to start negotiations with defense companies to ensure an increase in the production and supply of ammunition, shells, and missiles to Ukraine.
European deputies have also called on the US House of Representatives to adopt funding for aid to Ukraine.
The resolution also emphasizes the importance of confiscating frozen Russian assets to use them for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"Russia must be obliged to pay reparations imposed on it to ensure that it contributes substantially to rebuilding Ukrain," the document states.
European deputies urge the EU to maintain and expand its sanctions policy against Moscow and Minsk, including banning the import of Russian uranium and metallurgical products to the EU, ending nuclear cooperation with Russia, and imposing a complete embargo on the import of Russian agricultural and fishery products, as well as fossil fuels and liquefied natural gas transported by sea through pipelines.
New EU sanctions against Russia
Just before February 24, the European Union adopted the 13th package of sanctions against Russia.
According to the head of EU diplomacy, nearly 200 more individuals and companies have been added to the sanctions lists. Sanctions are also aimed at blocking "loopholes" to circumvent sanctions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously announced that the EU is restricting Russia's access to drones.
As reported by Western media, EU envoys have attempted several times to coordinate new sanctions against Russia, but Hungary traditionally blocked the decision. Budapest allegedly did not want Chinese companies to be included in the sanction lists.
