Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to today’s EU Council meeting, said
“I welcome the steps agreed today by EU leaders to increase pressure on Russia. EU leaders were right to extend targeted sanctions on an additional twelve Russian officials responsible for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and should be ready to extend this list further if necessary.
“Today’s decision by the Russian Parliament to officially endorse the accession of Crimea into Russia shows why it is vital that the UK continue to work in step with our allies to increase the economic and diplomatic pressure on President Putin to change course.
“Labour has called for Russia to be suspended from the group of the world’s largest economies, the G8, and I hope David Cameron now presses for that step to be taken when he meets with President Obama and other G7 leaders in The Hague on Monday.
“I welcome the EU Council measures agreed today to ensure support for the interim government of Ukraine continues in the run up to Presidential elections in May, including the signing of the political provision of the EU-Ukraine association agreement.”