Ukrainian Parliament proposes designating Belarus as aggressor state and breaking off diplomatic relations

A group of people's deputies have registered a draft resolution with the Verkhovna Rada [the Ukrainian parliament – ed.] proposing that Belarus be designated as an aggressor country, and are calling for diplomatic relations with the country to be broken off.

Source: European Pravda, citing a report by MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn on Monday.

Yurchyshyn says Belarus should bear some responsibility for the full-scale war, since it has made its territory available for aggression against Ukraine.

"This step is necessary to bring the Belarusian regime to justice and to raise future reparations for Ukraine," the MP believes.

"We remember the help that Belarusians have given in the war against the Russian invasion and are grateful to the soldiers of the Kalinoŭski Regiment. However, Belarus, as a country, should bear legal responsibility for crimes committed on our territory," he added.

The text of the resolution registered in the Verkhovna Rada on 16 June is not yet available, but an explanatory note specifies that the Ukrainian Parliament should designate Belarus as an aggressor state and calls on the governments of other states and international organisations to do the same.

In addition, Parliament will urge the government to "immediately work on the issue of severing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus", and to call on the international community to increase sanctions pressure on Minsk and bring war criminals to justice.

Although Belarus has not directly sent troops to Ukraine, Russian forces invaded Ukraine from its territory on 24 February 2022. In addition, Belarusian defence industry factories are helping Russia, and Ukraine is regularly attacked by missiles and drones from its territory.

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