Following are reactions from world leaders and politicians Russiadeclaring war on Ukraine early in the morning on Moscow television.
Some said they were “horrified” by Vladimir PutinRussia’s attack, while others expressed support for Ukraine.
Shortly after the new breakthrough of the invasion, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson He tweeted: “I am horrified by the horrific events in Ukraine and I spoke with President Zelensky to discuss the next steps.”
“President Putin has chosen the path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The United Kingdom and our allies will respond decisively, “he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is “horrified” by Vladimir Putin’s attack
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his support for Ukraine on Wednesday night
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday morning condemned Russia’s attack as an “unjustified and gross violation of international law.”
“To the Ukrainian people, to President Zelensky tonight, I reaffirm our support, our commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French on Wednesday night.
“On economic and financial issues, in terms of defense equipment, France will continue to support it,” he added.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday morning condemned Russia’s attack as an “unjustified and gross violation of international law” and said Berlin would consult with its G7, NATO and EU partners.
“This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a grim day for Europe,” he told Reuters.
In a coordinated response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany suspended certification of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on Tuesday, after which President Joe Biden announced he was sanctioning the company building the pipeline.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday afternoon that Nord Stream 2 was a “reward investment of $ 11 billion, which is now steel at the bottom of the sea.”
Germany relies on Russia as its main gas supplier, and the pipeline would double the amount of gas flowing into the country.
Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine the next morning, describing it as a “special military operation” and saying he wanted to “demilitarize” rather than occupy the country.
Hours after his address, which came around 6 a.m. Moscow time, Ukraine’s interior ministry said there were hundreds of casualties, CNN reported, although Russia insisted they were attacking only military sites and avoiding settlements.
Respondents to Ukraine’s allies and world leaders included Mateusz Morawiecki, prime minister of neighboring Poland, who called for more sanctions against Russia. “We must respond immediately to Russia’s criminal aggression against Ukraine,” he tweeted.
“Europe and the free world must stop Putin. Today’s European Council must approve the toughest possible sanctions. “Our support for Ukraine must be real,” he added.
“Canada condemns – most strongly – Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine,” tweeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau early Thursday morning.
“These unprovoked actions are clearly a further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Russia’s obligations under international law and the UN Charter,” he added.
“I strongly condemn Russia’s direct military attack on our neighbor, #Ukraine. [Russia] grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter. This is a direct threat to European security, “tweeted Ivan Korzok, Slovakia’s foreign and European affairs minister.
Russia’s neighbor Finland also condemned the attack, with Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeting, “I strongly condemn Russia’s military action in Ukraine.”
“The attack is a serious violation of international law and threatens the lives of many civilians. “Finland is expressing its strong support for Ukraine and the Ukrainians, and we are looking for ways to increase that support,” Marin tweeted.
Meanwhile, some US lawmakers have offered their support for Ukraine, while others have weighed their thoughts on what led to the invasion.
“California is with the people of Ukraine tonight. Russia is launching an unprovoked attack – an armed attempt to overthrow a sedentary democracy. There must be consequences, “Gavin Newsom tweeted.
Former Democratic Party spokesman Tulsi Gabbard, who sparked anger with statements about the crisis, did not appear to condemn Russia and instead blamed President Joe Biden for the invasion.
“This war and suffering could have been easily avoided if the Biden / NATO administrator had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate fears that Ukraine would become a member of NATO, which would mean that US / NATO forces are right on Russia’s border, “she tweeted.
Former President Donald Trump was also quick to point the finger and blame the devastating invasion.
Vladimir Putin has ordered an invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a “special military operation” and saying he wants to “demilitarize” rather than occupy the country.
Speaking to Laura Ingraham of Fox when the Kremlin’s “special military operation” began, Trump said the so-called “fraud for Russia” had ruined his good relations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi. argues that he kept the two separated.
Ingram asked Trump about the continuing closeness between Putin and Xi.
“Well, I had a good relationship with both of them,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. You see what happened to Durham and these reports and other reports, including Mueller. It was just a fabricated fraud and really hurt our country, but despite the fraud, I also had good relations with President XI of China, in addition to imposing duties and devilish taxes on him.
“As a young man growing up, I’ve always heard that the worst thing that can happen is to bring these two countries together. It really started with Obama and energy. He drove them together because one needed energy and the other needed money, “Trump added.
“He drove them together and Biden – I kept them separate – and Biden is a great love holiday now, and that’s a very bad thing, and I think you can probably add Iran to it.”
Trump says he used his good relations with Putin to prevent this.
“Well, I know him very well.” We had many, many times together. I got along with him fantastically, despite the fact that I closed Nord Stream 2, no one would have heard of Nord Stream 2 if it weren’t for me. I am the one who closed it.
An explosion was observed in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
Early Thursday morning, Ukraine’s border forces said their posts in the north had been attacked by both Russian and Belarusian forces – a very significant development, which means Russia is not acting alone and is attacking from all sides.
Earlier Thursday, the Russian president told Ukrainian troops “to lay down their arms and go home” while declaring war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.
Putin said Russia could not exist with a “permanent threat coming from Ukrainian territory” and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops were “inevitable.”
The President of Ukraine declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday in a video address to the people, urging people to stay at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.
‘We’re working. The army is working, “he said.
“Don’t panic.” We are strong. We are ready for anything. We will all win. Because we are Ukraine.
Unconfirmed reports say Russian forces have destroyed or rendered the Ukrainian navy unfit and taken control of Kiev’s Borispol airport.
Access to the Black and Azov Seas has been cut off.
More unconfirmed messages on Twitter appear to indicate a huge naval landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing ships and helicopters just before 6 a.m. local time.
President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday and condemned Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Wednesday night. He talks with the President of Ukraine.
Biden said in a statement: “President Putin has chosen a deliberate war that will bring catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.
“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia responsible.
Biden said he would monitor the situation in Washington, D.C., and would continue to receive regular updates from his national security team.