"For many decades": Kuleba voices consequences of recognizing Russia as sponsor of terrorism

This was written by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, in a column for RBC-Ukraine.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is necessary to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism as soon as possible, because since February 24, the Russians have committed all the crimes listed in the Rome Statute.

"Terrorism is really the second name of modern Russia, therefore recognizing it as a state sponsor of terrorism will only be a legal fixation of reality. In practice, this will mean the introduction of additional sanctions both from the US and from other countries, even deeper international isolation of the Russian regime, as well as the complete destruction of the remnants of Russia's reputation for many decades", Kuleba wrote. 

According to Kuleba, for many years, Russia used the "fight against terrorism" for manipulations and causes of interaction with other countries. In this way, the Russian Federation whitewashed its reputation in Europe and the US after the attack on Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014.

"Russia has imposed the myth of its supposedly constructive role in countering terrorism to justify its own wars, starting with Chechnya and ending with Syria. Although none of them were just or justified, Russian officials and diplomats everywhere said they were supposedly fighting terrorism. Adding Russia to the list of state sponsors of terrorism will destroy this myth forever. Russia is a source of terrorism, not a fighter against it", Kuleba wrote. 

The minister noted that Putin's terrorist regime poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the whole of Europe and the world.

"Putin proved a long time ago that borders do not matter to him, and he has declared the entire democratic world as an enemy. He will export Russian terrorism far beyond the borders of Ukraine with increased energy, if it is not stopped now", he said.

Kuleba also believes that Russian terrorism is spreading both within Russia itself and beyond its borders.

"Inside the country, the Kremlin uses state terror as a tool to destroy political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities... In Ukraine, this is military terrorism, the use of terrorist tactics of intimidation in the course of an aggressive war. In the international dimension, Russian private military companies and  killers intimidate the societies of other countries", the minister wrote. 

Ukrainian diplomats are working to ensure that Russia is recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism by the US, as well as a terrorist state at the level of both European states and international organizations.

"We convince our partners that such a step is in their own interests. Putin has proven that borders do not matter to him, and he has declared the entire democratic world as an enemy. He will export Russian terrorism far beyond the borders of Ukraine with increased energy, if it is not stopped now", Kuleba wrote.