MEPs mull declaring Russia a terrorist state over 'brutal and inhumane' crimes against Ukraine
The European Parliament should declare Russia a terrorist state for the "intimidation and destruction of Ukrainians as a nation," according to a strongly-worded resolution being drafted by the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) and seen by Euronews.
At least two other political groups, Renew Europe and the European Conservatives and Reformists, are preparing similar texts, Euronews can confirm, increasing the odds for a formal declaration to be issued by the hemicycle as early as next Wednesday.
The groups plan to put their resolutions, which could be eventually merged into one, to a vote during next week's plenary, where they would necessitate a majority of MEPs to be formally adopted.
Parliamentary resolutions are not legally binding but can carry a heavy symbolic weight.
The resolution drafted by the EPP accuses Russia of perpetrating deliberate and indiscriminate atrocities against Ukraine, including the "mass murder" of civilians, continued attacks against essential infrastructure, abductions, torture, sexual violence, forced deportations and crimes of sexual violence.
The party argues Russia's actions "far exceed" the concept of sponsoring terrorism and the state itself should be branded as a terrorist, given the direct participation of government forces in the invasion.
"Such violent planned terrorist actions of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine have no military significance and are carried out exclusively with a terrorist intent, orchestrated by the Putin regime, using the existing state machine of the Russian Federation, and executed by regular and irregular military structures, which involve persons with a criminal record and foreign mercenaries," the draft EPP resolution reads.
"These acts are not one-off
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