EP backs Landsbergis’ report on EU-Russia relations

“By adopting the report with a large majority, the European Parliament is sending a strong political signal to Russia that the Kremlin has failed to divide Europe, and if Russia’s aggression doesn’t stop, Europe is ready to further tighten the sanctions,” Landsbergis said in a statement on Wednesday.

In his words, the report is also a signal to all EU institutions that the attitude to Russia has changed. It’s no longer considered a strategic partner but a country breaching European order and values.

Landsbergis’ report was adopted with 494 votes in favour, 135 against and 69 abstentions.

The report says that Russia is directly and indirectly involved in the war in Ukraine, using “a new type of hybrid warfare”, and its actions amount to a deliberate violation of the core democratic principles and values upheld by the EU and widely shared internationally. The EU cannot envisage a return to “business as usual” with Russia and should re-assess as soon as possible its relations with Russia to counter the aggressive and divisive policies conducted by Russia against the EU and its partners.

The report also states that Russia must commit itself to implementing, fully and honestly, the provisions of the Minsk Agreements, respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity (including Crimea), and a dialogue with Russia should not be conducted at the expense of European values, standards and international commitments.

The report also calls for adopting measures to counter Russian propaganda within the EU and abroad.