The EU calls to Russia: Draw recognition of Ukraine's eastern regions

On 21 February, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, said Moscow recognised the Luhansk and Donjeck region as independent entities. These regions are controlled by separatists backed by Russia.

Borrell, through a statement on behalf of all EU member states, said Moscow with this move is further undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, and that such is a flagrant violation of international law and the Minsk agreement.

“As signatories of the Minsk agreement, Russia has the direct responsibility to work on finding the peaceful resolution of conflict”, Borrell said, referring to the agreement reached in 2015, aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine between the Russian-backed government forces and separatists.

This conflict began in the spring of 2014 and has so far claimed the lives of over 13,200.

“We call on Russia, as a side of the conflict, to withdraw recognition, adhere to commitments, respect international law, and return to discussions in the format of Normandy and the Trelateral Contact Group. We also urge other states not to follow Russia's illegal decision to recognise these” regions, Borrell said.

The EU's diplomacy chief said the European bloc will take measures against Russia and on individuals and entities responsible for minimising Ukraine's territorial integrity. According to Borrell, these actions will be co-ordinated with partners.

We warn Russia not to use the new pacts it signed with the self-declared republic as an excuse to take further action against Ukraine. The EU is ready to adopt broad political and economic sanctions”, Borrell said.

Germany and Britain have already announced the first sanctions on Russia, meanwhile, other states, including the United States, have warned they are preparing sanctions against Moscow.