In its resolution, the European Parliament calls for the lifting of restrictions preventing Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against legitimate military targets in Russia.
The resolution, approved on Thursday, September 19, with 425 votes in favor, 131 against and 63 abstentionsstates that unless current restrictions are lifted, Ukraine cannot fully exercise its right to self-defence and remains exposed to attacks against its population and infrastructure.
Parliament underlines that insufficient deliveries of ammunition and restrictions on their use risk undermining the efforts made so far and deeply regrets the reduction in the financial volume of bilateral military aid to Ukraine by Member States.
MEPs reiterate their call on EU countries to fulfil their March 2023 commitment to deliver one million missiles to Ukraine and to accelerate the delivery of weapons, air defence systems and ammunition, including TAURUS missiles. They also reiterate their position that all EU countries and NATO allies should collectively and individually commit to annual military support to Ukraine of at least 0.25% of their GDP.
European Parliament: Resolution allowing Ukraine to use EU weapons on Russian soil
EU sanctions must be maintained and extended
The resolution calls on EU member states to maintain and expand the Council’s sanctions policy against Russia, Belarus and third countries and entities that supply Russia with “dual-use” military technology and goods.
MEPs condemn recent transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran in Russia and call for tougher sanctions against Tehran and also against North Korea for supporting Russia’s attack on Ukraine. They also want entities and individuals from China to be added to the EU sanctions list, as well as tougher measures to systematically address the issue of sanctions evasion by companies based in the EU, third parties and third countries.
Seizure of Russian state assets to compensate Ukraine
It calls on the EU and its Member States to work actively to secure the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and to find a peaceful solution to the war, based on full respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also considers accountability for Russian war crimes and reparations and other payments from Moscow as fundamental aspects of any solution.
To this end, MEPs want the EU and like-minded partners to establish a robust legal framework for the confiscation of Russian state assets that have been frozen by the EU, as part of efforts to compensate Ukraine for the catastrophe it is facing.