EU lawmakers look set to declare Russia a "state sponsor of terrorism" in line with pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ednews reports citing DW.

"Russia is directing attacks against the civilian population and targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, medical facilities and schools," a document prepared by the European Parliament's research service states.  

If passed as a resolution in a vote on Wednesday, the designation would be a largely symbolic condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine and beyond. The US government has so far resisted the label for Russia, citing potential unintended consequences under its legal system. 

What does the 'state sponsor' designation mean? 

That depends on the jurisdiction. In the United States, there is a specific legal instrument listing states that have "repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism."  At present, only Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria are on it.  

Inclusion means restrictions on foreign aid, a ban on defense exports to such governments, controls on exports of technology with potential military use and financial constraints. Crucially, it also has implications for Russia's sovereign immunity in US courts. 

Canada also has a similar instrument condemning "state supporters of terrorism."  

By contrast, the European Union currently has no centralized list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and no equivalent tool, as the European Parliament motion for a resolution published last week acknowledged. In essence, there would be no hard and fast legal consequences. The European Parliament has limited clout in foreign policy, which remains under the control of the 27 member states. 

Has any country called Russia a 'state sponsor'?  

A number of US legislators have pushed the Biden administration for such a listing, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. In a statement in September, Graham said lifting Russia's immunity would allow "civil claims from the families of victims of its state-sponsored terrorism."  

But other US officials say the designation is not the best way to hold the Kremlin accountable. Listing Russia could undermine humanitarian initiatives, as well as the US's ability to help Kyiv at the negotiation table down the line, President Joe Biden's spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, said last month. In the US, the designation has implications for third countries that interact with listed states.  

So far, parliaments in several of Ukraine's most ardent EU backers — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — have declared that they consider Russia under President Vladimir Putin to be a state sponsor of terrorism. These resolutions were nonbinding. The Kremlin has accused Latvian lawmakers of xenophobia. The lower house of the Czech Parliament has also made such a declaration.  

The parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe called last month on its 46 member states to declare Russia under its current government a terrorist regime.