First Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Irina Gerashchenko considers the world community’s reaction to the actions of the Russian Federation against Ukrainian ships on November 25 “inappropriately soft,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
First Deputy Speaker about this stated on her Facebook page.
“I believe that the world’s reaction to the new fact of open aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is so far inappropriately soft and does not take into account the level of possible threats. Now we need to mobilize our diplomatic efforts and a more decisive appeal for the immediate release of sailors, Ukrainian ships, guarantees of safe navigation and economic activity in the Sea of Azov, new sanctions against the Russian Federation,” Gerashchenko noted.
At the same time, she added that on Tuesday the appeal adopted by the Verkhovna Rada the day before would be sent to the UN, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO PA, the OSCE PA, the GUAM PA and the national parliaments of states.
“The Verkhovna Rada with 272 votes supported our appeal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to international organizations, parliaments of the world and interparliamentary assemblies. Today, this appeal will be sent to partners through diplomatic channels,” she added.
The appeal states that Ukraine demands immediate medical assistance to wounded Ukrainian sailors and the immediate return of seized military property. The parliament calls on the international community to take “effective measures to stop military aggression both on land and at sea, including applying new and tightening existing sanctions until the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine is fully restored within internationally recognized borders.”
The Rada also invites international organizations to send observers to the region of the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait and invites maritime states to send warships to the region to avoid further escalation of tensions. In addition, people's deputies call on “international partners” to increase the provision of military and other assistance to Ukraine to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.