KIEV (Sputnik) – The decision was supported by 239 lawmakers on the Friday’s session at the Verkhovna Rada.
"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is calling for the parliaments of international states, the European Parliament and international parliamentary assemblies to appeal to Russia with the request to stop aggression against Ukraine, extend and toughen sanctions against Russia," the statement read.
The statement also said that Russia violates sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine and "evolves into a terrorist state," referring to recent arrests of Russian citizens in Kiev and Kharkiv, who were allegedly planning terrorist attacks.
Relations between Russian and Ukraine went downhill in 2014 over the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Kiev accused Moscow of helping pro-independence supporters in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, against whom the state authorities launched a military operation. Kremlin has repeatedly denied the accusations.
In 2014, the European Union and the United States imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia as a punitive measure. The sanctions are set to expire in January.
