EU lawmakers call for increased military support to Ukraine, sanctions against Russia

ISTANBUL

The European Parliament on Thursday urged for heightened military support for Ukraine and stronger sanctions against Russia, North Korea, and other countries aiding Moscow’s war efforts.

In a resolution, EU lawmakers condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops in Ukraine and the testing of new ballistic missiles, marking what they described as a "new phase" in the conflict and an escalating threat to European security.

The resolution was adopted with 390 votes in favor, 135 against, and 52 abstentions.

After more than a thousand days of the Russian war on Ukraine which started in February 2022, the Parliament called on the EU to provide Kyiv with advanced military equipment, including aircraft, long-range missiles, modern air defense systems like the Patriots, and more artillery.

Members of the European Parliament (MEP) also pushed for member states to allocate at least 0.25% of their GDP annually to military support for Kyiv, aligning with the US's decision to allow Ukraine to target Russian military assets on its territory.

In addition to military assistance, the resolution calls for further sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, such as metallurgy, nuclear, and agriculture.

MEPs also condemned countries such as Iran, Belarus, and North Korea for their military backing of Moscow and urged the EU to expand sanctions against them.

The parliament also called on Beijing to halt all military or dual-use assistance to Russia, warning that continued support could severely impact EU-China relations.

It further urges the EU to collaborate with global partners, including countries from the Global South, in implementing Ukraine’s Peace Formula and organizing a second Peace Summit.

The lawmakers also reaffirmed that the war poses a "grave threat" to the rules-based international order and called for swift, decisive action to address the escalation.