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MEPs urge EU to consider delivering fighter jets to Ukraine

16.02.2023 21:00
European lawmakers on Thursday called on EU member states to consider delivering fighter jets, helicopters, advanced missile systems and more munitions to Ukraine.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a voting session in Strasbourg, France, January 17, 2023.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a voting session in Strasbourg, France, January 17, 2023.Photo: EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

In a resolution marking one year of Russia’s war against Ukraine, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) strongly condemned Moscow’s aggression and reiterated their "unwavering solidarity with the people and leadership of Ukraine."

MEPs reaffirmed their support for providing military assistance to Ukraine "for as long as is necessary" and called for "serious consideration to be given to delivering Western fighter jets and helicopters, appropriate missile systems and substantial increases in munitions delivery to Kyiv."

The resolution said that Ukraine "must not only be able to defend itself, but also to regain full control of its entire internationally recognised territory," according to the European Parliament's website.

In their resolution, MEPs demanded that "the legal regime - which allows for Russian assets frozen by the EU to be confiscated - be completed." These assets "should then be used to reconstruct the country and to compensate the victims of the war," they said.

MEPs also said in their resolution that "once the war ends, Russia will have to be subject to severe reparations to contribute substantially to the reconstruction of Ukraine."

EU lawmakers urged the member states to adopt their 10th sanctions package against Russia and its allies by the end of February and to substantially broaden its scope, according to the europarl.europa.eu website.

The resolution was adopted with 444 votes in favour, 26 against with 37 abstentions.

Thursday was day 358 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, europarl.europa.eu