UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations says his country soon will ask the world body's member states to formally recognize Russia as a sponsor of terrorism.

Yuriy Sergeyev told reporters on Friday that Ukraine will submit a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly that echoes the declaration by the country's parliament this week.

Ukraine's parliament also declared the Russia-backed separatist republics in the east to be terrorist organizations. That formally eliminates the possibility of holding peace talks with the republics' representatives.

Sergeyev warned of a "huge war" if the separatists take more territory or build a corridor to southern Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed almost a year ago.

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of backing the rebels with troops and weapons, which Russia denies.