The European Parliament urged to strengthen sanctions against Russia

The European Parliament urged the European Union to strengthen sanctions against Russia, the resolution adopted in Strasbourg said . According to the Euro -deputies, it is necessary to take measures against Russian companies in the energy sector, Russian investments and assets in the EU, as well as revise all agreements with Russia in order to suspend their possible suspension.

The European Parliament is seriously concerned about a rapidly worsening situation and bloodshed in the east and southern Ukraine, the resolution says. The Euro -deputies strongly urge Russia to immediately stop supporting the violent actions of the separatists and armed militias, led by Russian special forces, as well as withdraw their troops from the eastern border of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian authorities have every right to use all necessary measures, including the right to self -defense in accordance with the UN Charter, deputies of the European Parliament say. They warn Russia against the use of Ukraine’s legal law to protect their territorial integrity as an excuse for a full -scale military invasion.

The Euro -deputies hope that in the course of four -sided negotiations in Geneva, the path will be found for the diplomatic settlement of the crisis.

On April 13, US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a telephone conversation with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov, called for steps to take the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, Kerry again announced the possibility of "additional consequences" for Russia in connection with the occupation of Crimea. The United States previously imposed sanctions against a number of Russian officials and businessmen and said that they do not exclude the imposition of economic sanctions against the Russian economy as a whole.

On April 10, Pase deprived Russia by the end of 2014 the right to vote for her annexation of Crimea. For this decision, 145 deputies out of 188 those present voted. 21 The deputy opposed this measure, 22 abstained. In addition, the Assembly forbade Russia to participate in its governing bodies and observation missions.

During the discussion of the draft resolution, the deputies rejected four radical amendments, which demanded to completely deprive the Russian delegation of authority in PACA. At the same time, the assembly promised to tighten the sanctions against Moscow if she did not refuse the annexation of Crimea.