Nine months after the invasion of Ukraine began, the European Parliament took a decisive step. Russia is described as supporting terrorism through deliberate military actions and atrocities against civilians, including assaults on energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and shelters. Such acts breach international and humanitarian law and are labeled as acts of terrorism and war crimes. The resolution delivers a clear, though symbolic, message to Vladimir Putin by asserting that Russia operates as a state that employs terrorism as a method, backed by a substantial majority: 494 in favor, 58 against, and 44 abstentions.
In contrast to the United States, the European Union does not possess a formal legal framework to officially designate a country as a sponsor of terrorism. Members of the European Parliament urge the Council and the member states to create that framework and to consider Russia for inclusion on such a list. The Parliament argues that this step would unlock a range of restrictive measures against Moscow, with significant implications for EU relations with Russia.
As part of this approach, the resolution calls on the Council to include in the EU list the Wagner Group, the Special Motorized Regiment 141, also known as the Kadyrovites, and other Russian-funded armed groups, militias, and proxies. It also recommends continuing to isolate Russia economically by pursuing a new ninth sanctions package, on top of the eight already adopted. Members of the Parliament also stress the need for member states to actively prevent, investigate, and prosecute sanctions circumvention, and to work with the European Commission to assess additional measures against countries attempting to help Russia evade the current restrictions.
Purpose: isolate Russia
From the perspective of the Members of the European Parliament, the EU should not limit its efforts to isolating Moscow within Europe. They call for extending the goal to the international arena, including the United Nations Security Council. In this broader frame, they emphasize reducing diplomatic ties with Russia, minimizing official EU communications with Russian authorities, and closing or restricting access for state-affiliated Russian institutions and propagandists worldwide.
“Since Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine, we have condemned it in the strongest terms, supported robust EU sanctions against Russia, and urged Moscow to face accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression,” stated the vice-president of the Portuguese Social Democrats, Pedro Marques. The council’s decision is received as a strong political signal by social democratic voices. They argue that Russia aims to deny people basic needs this winter, denying heating, water, and electricity. Such outcomes are viewed as war crimes, demanding immediate action to halt the bloodshed and ensure accountability.