Ukraine urged its international partners to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. This was stated by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanyshyn during a speech at a meeting of the Committee on Democracy and Security of the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius, BBC reports.
Stefanyshyn said that Russia systematically violates the main principles of humanitarian law and human rights: according to her, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of civilians have died, about 220,000 people have lost their homes.
Russia, realizing that it cannot win the war, is purposefully trying to destroy Ukraine, bringing it closer to humanitarian disaster, the deputy prime minister said.
"Faced with logistical problems, Russian troops are looting locals and humanitarian convoys in the occupied territories. Having failed to suppress the resistance of the local population, the invaders unleashed repression - Russian troops are brutally persecuting local leaders, journalists and activists, believing that resistance and guarantees loyalty to Russia," Stefanishina said.
She added that Ukraine expects decisive steps on the security of Ukraine and the Alliance itself from the NATO summit to be held in Madrid at the end of June.
"I ask you to imagine the world for a moment in the event of Ukraine's defeat. We Ukrainians know very well what a Russian victory would look like, because we know what the Russian occupation looks like today. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians live in fear and terror. With Russia's victory there will be no hope for a safe and free life on the European continent, the rules will be determined by force and not by international law," the deputy prime minister stressed.
Stefanyshyn noted that sanctions against russia, arms supplies and support for the Ukrainian economy are key to Ukraine's victory in the war, and the prospect of ukraine's membership in the eU is a necessary step to increase the country's sustainability and further its recovery.
