Putin has said Russia will conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and called on the Ukraine military to lay down its arms.
“I have made the decision of a military operation,” he said in a surprise statement on television shortly before 6 am (03:00 GMT).
Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime”.
Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
Joe Biden Speaks on Russia Attacks on Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has denounced “unprovoked and unjustified” attack on Ukraine, pledging the world will “hold Russia accountable”.
Biden said Russia alone is responsible for the “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering” to come, adding that he will address the nation on Thursday on ‘consequences’ for Russia.
Biden said he will meet his G7 counterparts in the morning [EST] before speaking to the American people to announce the “further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression” against Ukraine and global peace and security.
“Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,” Biden added.
The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, has said that a “wholly unprovoked” attack on Ukraine is under way.
“A wholly unprovoked attack on a peaceful country is unfolding. Horrified,” she said in a tweet on Thursday morning.
“Just because you’ve prepared and thought about tis possibility for weeks and months doesn’t mean it isn’t shocking when it actually happens.”