The spokesperson of the European External Action Service denounced, on Thursday 25 April, the signing by Russian President Vladimir Putin of a decree authorising, inter alia, people permanently residing in certain areas of the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner.
According to the spokesperson, this is “another attack on Ukraine's sovereignty by Russia” and the timing of such a decision, immediately after Ukraine’s presidential election (see EUROPE 12240/11), “shows Russia's intention to further destabilise Ukraine and to exacerbate the conflict”.
Moscow must refrain from taking measures contrary to the Minsk agreements and from impeding the full reintegration of the non-government controlled areas into Ukraine, she warned, calling on all parties to fully implement their commitments under the Minsk agreements.
Asked about the request of the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to intensify diplomatic pressure and apply new western sanctions following the Russian decree, EEAS spokesperson Maja Kocijancic recalled the “strong and united” position of Europeans on the crisis in Ukraine and said that they would continue to act in line with that “including when it comes to restrictive measures”. The current Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, who will leave office in early June, has also called for increased sanctions. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)