Council of Europe acknowledges presence of Russian troops in Ukraine

Photo: Reuters

The Council of Europe’s supreme executive body, the Committee of Ministers, has acknowledged the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine and urged Moscow to withdraw them from Ukrainian territory, reads a committee decision.

According to the decision, the committee urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and refrain from any further military intervention in Ukraine, including from the supply of military equipment and property to other parties, as well as to ensure border security, and prevent illegal movement of property.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described such a decision as unprecedented.

«It’s an unprecedented decision for the Council of Europe, another recognition by the authoritative international organization of the presence of Russian troops on Ukrainian territory and Russian military intervention, which Moscow persistently denies. We welcome such a decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as another manifestation of the consolidation of the international community in support of Ukraine and the condemnation of Russian aggression,» a source in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.