EU does not recognize Russian passports handed out to Ukrainians

EU condemned the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin on a simplified procedure for the distribution of Russian passports to all Ukrainians and will not recognize these documents.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, said:

“The new Russian legislation, which now simplifies the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for all Ukrainians, is another gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty associated with Russia’s illegal war.”

Borrell stressed that the EU would not recognize such passports and recalled Brussels’ preliminary statement in response to Putin’s decision to simplify the granting of citizenship to residents of the occupied territories of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree on a simplified procedure for granting Russian citizenship to all Ukrainians. Document posted at the official Internet portal of legal information: Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 11, 2022 No. 440 “On Amending the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of April 24, 2019 No. 183″ On the definition for humanitarian purposes of the categories of persons entitled to apply for admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation under the simplified procedure” and Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated April 29, 2019 No. 187 “On certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons who have the right to apply for admission to the citizenship of the Russian Federation under the simplified procedure”.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the move. MFA declaredthat the passportization of Ukrainian citizens is legally null and void and will not have legal consequences for Ukraine. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said the West should respond to Putin’s latest move with more arms supplies and more sanctions against Russia:

“Ukrainian citizens do not need Putin’s citizenship, and attempts to impose it by force are doomed to failure. This decree is worthless and testifies only to Putin’s greedy appetites. I am convinced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will put an end to them with the due support of partners. I urge partners to react strongly to new Putin’s passport fantasies: to urgently provide Ukraine with more heavy weapons and impose new economic sanctions against Russia.

Source link