٠٠:٠١:١٩The European Parliament adopted several resolutions during a session in Strasbourg on Thursday, including one on removing limitations on the use of weaponry supplied to Ukraine for the conflict with Russia.
The motion on letting Ukraine 'fully exercise its right to self-defence' by 'immediately' lifting restrictions on weapons passed with 425 votes for, 131 against, and 63 abstentions.
The move cannot override decisions by the bloc's individual governments, but media reports suggested it could increase pressure on countries. Italian MEPs, whose government has resisted calls to allow weapons to be used within Russia, largely voted against the resolution.
Allies remain largely divided over the use of weapons by Kiev on Russian territory, while talks between the US and UK on allowing Ukraine to conduct 'long-range' strikes broke up last week without a deal confirmed. Moscow has warned such a move could mean direct conflict between Russian and NATO.
Lawmakers also voted to recognise opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelan president as well as a resolution concerning the reportedly deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan.
The parliament adopted a resolution condemning the 'exclusion' of women in Afghanistan with 565 votes in favour, 8 votes against, and 43 abstentions. The Venezuela resolution had 309 votes in favour, 201 against, and 12 abstentions, and called for Gonzalez to be allowed to take office. Venezuela's National Electoral Council reported that Nicolas Maduro won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote to Gonzalez's 44 percent in the recent presidential elections. Gonzalez subsequently sought asylum on Sunday following a deal between Caracas and Madrid, after facing a number of election-related charges.
No limits! European Parliament backs Ukraine using weapons on Russian territory, ramps up pressure on bloc's governments
The European Parliament adopted several resolutions during a session in Strasbourg on Thursday, including one on removing limitations on the use of weaponry supplied to Ukraine for the conflict with Russia.
The motion on letting Ukraine 'fully exercise its right to self-defence' by 'immediately' lifting restrictions on weapons passed with 425 votes for, 131 against, and 63 abstentions.
The move cannot override decisions by the bloc's individual governments, but media reports suggested it could increase pressure on countries. Italian MEPs, whose government has resisted calls to allow weapons to be used within Russia, largely voted against the resolution.
Allies remain largely divided over the use of weapons by Kiev on Russian territory, while talks between the US and UK on allowing Ukraine to conduct 'long-range' strikes broke up last week without a deal confirmed. Moscow has warned such a move could mean direct conflict between Russian and NATO.
Lawmakers also voted to recognise opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelan president as well as a resolution concerning the reportedly deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan.
The parliament adopted a resolution condemning the 'exclusion' of women in Afghanistan with 565 votes in favour, 8 votes against, and 43 abstentions. The Venezuela resolution had 309 votes in favour, 201 against, and 12 abstentions, and called for Gonzalez to be allowed to take office. Venezuela's National Electoral Council reported that Nicolas Maduro won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote to Gonzalez's 44 percent in the recent presidential elections. Gonzalez subsequently sought asylum on Sunday following a deal between Caracas and Madrid, after facing a number of election-related charges.
The European Parliament adopted several resolutions during a session in Strasbourg on Thursday, including one on removing limitations on the use of weaponry supplied to Ukraine for the conflict with Russia.
The motion on letting Ukraine 'fully exercise its right to self-defence' by 'immediately' lifting restrictions on weapons passed with 425 votes for, 131 against, and 63 abstentions.
The move cannot override decisions by the bloc's individual governments, but media reports suggested it could increase pressure on countries. Italian MEPs, whose government has resisted calls to allow weapons to be used within Russia, largely voted against the resolution.
Allies remain largely divided over the use of weapons by Kiev on Russian territory, while talks between the US and UK on allowing Ukraine to conduct 'long-range' strikes broke up last week without a deal confirmed. Moscow has warned such a move could mean direct conflict between Russian and NATO.
Lawmakers also voted to recognise opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelan president as well as a resolution concerning the reportedly deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan.
The parliament adopted a resolution condemning the 'exclusion' of women in Afghanistan with 565 votes in favour, 8 votes against, and 43 abstentions. The Venezuela resolution had 309 votes in favour, 201 against, and 12 abstentions, and called for Gonzalez to be allowed to take office. Venezuela's National Electoral Council reported that Nicolas Maduro won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote to Gonzalez's 44 percent in the recent presidential elections. Gonzalez subsequently sought asylum on Sunday following a deal between Caracas and Madrid, after facing a number of election-related charges.