EU never to agree with russia's attempts to forcibly annex territory of Ukraine - declaration

The European Union condemns russia's actions aimed at forcible secession of the temporarily occupied regions from Ukraine, and never recognizes attempts to integrate them into russia's territory.

This is stated in the declaration of the High Representative of the EU on behalf of all 27 EU countries, published on the website of the European Council.

The document states that the EU strongly condemns the decrees of the President of the russian Federation of 25 and 30 May, which simplify the process of granting russian citizenship and issuing russian passports to Ukrainian citizens in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, in territories temporarily controlled by russian invasion forces. Also Ukrainian children deprived of parental care and illegally displaced persons from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

“The European Union does not recognize these passports, the issuance of which is part of russia's aggressive war against Ukraine,” the Declaration said.

The European Union also condemns any attempt to replace democratically elected and legitimate Ukrainian administrations, as well as to introduce the russian ruble as the currency in parallel with the Ukrainian hryvnia in the temporarily occupied territories.

The EU also does not accept russia's attempts to approve its curriculum and textbooks and change the language of instruction in schools in those parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions that are currently under the illegal control of russian invaders.

“Any attempt to change the status of parts of Ukraine is a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter and the Constitution of Ukraine, they further undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and will not be recognized by the European Union,” the document said.

Russia, its political leadership, and all those involved in violating international humanitarian law will be held accountable for these illegal actions.

The document emphasizes that the European Union remains steadfast in supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The EU demands that the russian Federation immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from all over Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Also today the Official Journal of the EU published details of the sixth sanctions package against russia.