RESOLUTION AEBR Online Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the Association of European Border Regions condemns the invasion of Ukrainian territory by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Determining the borders by means of war does not belong into the 21st Century, and falls apart from AEBR expectations from Russia, as declared in our Annual Conference in Kursk (close to the Russian-Ukrainian border) on 21 September 2011: good practices in cross-border cooperation and neighbourhood.

We also support the measures taken by the institutions of the European Union and international organisations to protect the Ukrainian population, regions and cities, the respect to the Rule of Law and the international obligations deriving from treaties, as well as the interests of the Union.

AEBR Executive Committee calls on the Russian Federation to respect Ukraine's state integrity and sovereignty and its existing territorial borders. It, therefore, calls to cease its military actions against Ukraine immediately, withdraw its troops from Ukraine and return to a peaceful diplomatic solution. Similarly, Russia must immediately withdraw the recognition of the so-called 'People's Republics' Donetsk and Luhansk, which is contrary to international law.

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