The World Tourism Organization (WTO) is preparing to suspend Russia from this Madrid-based non-governmental organization after it decided on Tuesday to convene an extraordinary meeting of its General Assembly to take a final position on the issue.

"The WTO Executive Council [meeting this afternoon in Madrid] decided to hold an Extraordinary General Assembly of the WTO to address the suspension of the Russian Federation's participation," the organization said in a press release, adding that the main meeting will be convened "in the coming days."

An official source from the WTO told the Lusa agency that it is up to the General Assembly to make a decision on the suspension of one of its members, but that the decision taken this Tuesday by the Executive Council of this specialized United Nations organization is a "clear indication" of the final direction of the decision.

According to the same source, quoted by Lusa, 72% of its members voted in favor of scheduling the organization's General Assembly.

Held in Madrid at the request of several WTO members, the Executive Council met amid "continuing global concern and condemnation" regarding "unilateral actions" by the Russian Federation.

"War is never a solution! Not now, not ever. But it is clear that not everyone is committed to this ideal," said WTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, quoted in the statement.

The head of the WTO stressed that "when members go against" the objectives of the WTO, "there must be consequences."

The WTO reiterates its full support for the UN General Assembly resolution and the vote of the UN Human Rights Council: "The sovereignty, political and territorial independence and integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, must be upheld, and the call of the United Nations for the peaceful resolution of the conflict must be followed.