EU Says Russia Is Aiming to ‘De Facto Integrate’ E. Ukraine
- Paper seen by Bloomberg offers ways to boost help for Ukraine
- Tensions between Russia and Ukraine spiked last month
A Ukrainian serviceman walks in a trench on the frontline with Russia backed separatists near the town of Zolote, Ukraine on April 9.
Source: AFP/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
The European Union says Russia is trying to gradually absorb parts of eastern Ukraine, according to a document the bloc shared this week with member states.
In the paper, seen by Bloomberg, the EU says steps by the Kremlin such as organizing illegitimate elections and issuing passports to locals are “aimed at de facto integration of Ukraine’s non-governmental-controlled areas into Russia.” The EU’s foreign-affairs arm, the EEAS, will prepare a report on the matter, according to the paper.