**PACE Refuses to Register Draft Resolution Branding Putin a Terrorist**
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has refused to register a draft amendment that labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as a terrorist. The amendment was proposed by Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko and Swedish MP Markus Wiechel as part of PACE’s resolution on “Europe’s Commitment to a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine.”
The amendment was not registered because, according to the PACE table office, it insults Putin’s dignity. However, Merezhko disagrees with this decision, saying that the term “terrorist” is a legal term used in international legal documents.
PACE did include a mention of Putin in its published resolution, but without labeling him as a terrorist. The document refers to Putin’s “totalitarian regime and its war on democracy.”
**Russian War Against Ukraine Continues**
The Russian war against Ukraine continues with devastating consequences. On January 30, a Russian drone struck a residential building in the northeastern city of Sumy, killing four people and injuring at least nine others.
**Russia’s Military Situation**
Russia’s military situation is also deteriorating. According to reports, Russia has lost more than half of its available equipment, and hostilities could gradually fade by late 2025 or early 2026 due to a shortage of tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery.
**European Union Sanctions**
The European Commission will not propose implementing a ban on Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports in its upcoming sanctions package. This decision was made amid concern among member states about first securing an alternative from other countries.
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