On the morning of February 24, Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas.
Russia carried out strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure and border guards. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared martial law throughout the country.
World leaders reacted to the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden said that only Russia is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will bring.
The United States, allies and partners will respond decisively and unitedly. The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would impose sanctions on strategic sectors of the Russian economy, blocking access to key technologies and markets.
“We will not allow President Putin to destroy the European security architecture. He must not underestimate the resolve and strength of our democracies. The European Union supports Ukraine and its people. Ukraine will prevail,” she stressed.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock made a statement about the start of Russia's special military operation in the Donbass and said that the world community “will not forget” the military operations in Ukraine for the Kremlin.
“By attacking Ukraine, Russia is violating the most elementary rules of international order. The world community will not forget Russia's actions, she wrote.
Burbock also called the day the Russian operation began shameful.
According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russia must immediately stop hostilities.
– Within the framework of the G7, NATO and the EU, we will closely coordinate our actions today. This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe,” he says.
Polish President Andrzej Duda promised a joint EU and NATO response to Russian aggression. He says that despite the efforts of the international community, Ukraine has been the victim of a brutal, unprovoked and unjustified Russian attack.
“We are cooperating with our NATO and EU allies, we will together respond to Russian brutal aggression and will not leave Ukraine without support,” he writes.
