EP calls on European Council to promptly complete work on ninth package of Russia-related sanctions – resolution.

In the light of the escalation of terrorist acts of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the European Parliament calls on the European Council to promptly complete work on the ninth package of sanctions.

The corresponding resolution was voted on Wednesday in Strasbourg within the framework of the EP plenary session.

"[EP] calls on the Council to take into account the Russian Federation’s escalating acts of terror against the population of Ukraine and therefore to swiftly complete its work on a ninth sanctions package; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure swift implementation and strict enforcement of all sanctions," according to the text.

With regard to the sanctions already adopted, the EP called on member states to "actively prevent, investigate and prosecute any circumvention of the sanctions; calls on all Member States to remain united in their response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine" and "asks the Commission and the Member States to consider possible measures against countries that try to help Russia to circumvent the sanctions imposed; urges the Commission to ensure that national penalties for breaching EU sanctions are effective, proportionate and dissuasive," the resolution says.

Separately, the European Parliament spoke in favor of applying sanctions to persons involved in forced deportations, forced adoption of Ukrainian children, illegal "referendums" in Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions, as well as illegal elections in Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as members of the State Duma, deputies of all levels, including regional and municipal ones.

The resolution also calls for Russia and Belarus to be included in the EU's list of high-risk third countries for combating money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. "[EP] calls for an immediate and full embargo on EU imports of Russian fossil fuels and uranium, and for the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines to be completely abandoned, in order to stop financing Russia’s war of aggression; calls on the EU and its Member States to prohibit the public use and display of symbols connected with Russia's military aggression and war crimes in a way that expresses support for or justifies those activities," the document details.

The EP also called for a ban on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of rough or processed diamonds originating in the Russian Federation.

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