Russia brutally shelling Ukrainian cities and should be recognized as terrorist state - Shmyhal

Russia is cynically shelling Ukrainian cities and should be recognized as a terrorist state at the international level.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in a Telegram post, Ukrinform reports.

He said he emphasized the importance of recognizing Russia as a terrorist state during a conversation with Samantha Power, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

"Cynical and brutal shelling of Ukrainian cities: Mykolaiv, Chasiv Yar, Vinnytsia. Dozens of civilians were killed. Russia continues its policy of intimidation and terrorism. That is why it should be recognized as a terrorist state at the international level," Shmyhal wrote.

Shmyhal also noted unprecedented U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor under President Joe Biden.

"Military, economic and humanitarian aid helps save the lives of many Ukrainians every day. And we are grateful to our partners for that," Shmyhal said.

He added that during the conversation he thanked USAID for allocating, together with the World Bank, $1.7 billion in direct budget support to Ukraine this week.

On July 9, at a government meeting, a draft agreement was approved to provide Ukraine with a $1.7 billion grant from the Single Donor Trust Fund, created by the IBRD, the International Development Association and USAID. The grant is transferred on a free, non-refundable basis to Ukraine's state budget. The funds will be used to cover the costs of the state budget for the payment of medical services under the medical guarantees program.