Sanctions on Russia should be strengthened after Moscow鈥檚 move to recognize legal documents produced in breakaway Ukrainian regions, President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday.
"This worrying situation requires strengthening sanctions," Poroshenko said at a meeting with Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed an executive order to recognize legal documents issued in parts of the breakaway Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Poroshenko said the order was "incompatible" with the Minsk agreements, designed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday the step was taken for 鈥渉umanitarian鈥� purposes. "There is no violation of international law [or] Minsk agreements. There is no reason for aggravating the situation," Peskov said.
Saturday鈥檚 executive order stated Russia would recognize documents such as vehicle registration plates, birth certificates and ID cards issued in certain parts of the disputed regions of eastern Ukraine.
It also said Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons 鈥減ermanently residing鈥� in the two regions would be able to enter and leave Russia without applying for visas, if they produced valid documents.
Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia鈥檚 annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.
Reporting By Ali Cura in Kiev
Writing By Diyar Guldogan
Anadolu Agency
enerji@aa.com.tr
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