Ukraine calls for strengthened sanctions against Russia

By Ali Cura

KIEV, Ukraine (AA) - Sanctions on Russia should be strengthened after Moscow’s 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 “humanitarian” purposes. "There is no violation of international law [or] Minsk agreements. There is no reason for aggravating the situation," Peskov said.

Saturday’s 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 “permanently residing” 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’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.