The President of Russia has launched a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday and the explosions could be heard across the nation and a full-scale invasion has been warned by the foreign minister.
After weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of several sanctions on Russia by the Western powers, it was all in vain. All the steps that were taken to avert the ongoing crisis in Ukraine have failed to deter Vladimir Putin who had amassed more than 150,000 troops near the borders of Ukraine. The Russian President in a surprise television announcement stated that he had decided against launching a military operation that has triggered condemnation from the Western leaders including the President of the United States, Joe Biden. This decision has sent the world financial markets in turmoil.
Shortly after the announcement was made by President Putin, explosions could be heard in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital along with various other cities as per reports. The border guards of Ukraine have reported that they were under attack along the Belarusian and Russian frontline. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Facebook post stated that Russia has started attacking his country’s military infrastructure and he has urged the citizens of the country not to panic and ended the statement by vowing victory.
The foreign minister of Ukraine said that the worst-case scenario of the crisis was now playing out. Dmytro Kuleba took to his Twitter to announce that Vladimir Putin had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some of the peaceful Ukrainian cities were under strike. He further added that this was a war of aggression and Ukraine will be defending itself and will emerge victoriously. He said that the time to act is now.
Putin while addressing via the television screens was calling out the Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and he was seen justifying the operation citing the claims that the government had overseen a genocide in the Eastern parts of the country. The Kremlin had earlier issued a statement saying that the rebel leaders in Eastern Ukraine had asked for Russia’s help against Kyiv.
President Biden who was seeking to lead the western alliance to deter Russia from invading their neighbour for quite some time, spoke with the Ukrainian leader after the military operations began and vowed to support and assist him. Biden also condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine by the military forces of Russia and has urged the world leaders to speak out against the aggression shown by the Russian President. He also vowed that Russia would be held accountable for its actions.
He further added that Russia was alone responsible for the death and destruction this military operation will bring and that the United States and its allies will respond to it in a united and decisive way. Biden is expected to join a virtual closed-door meeting of G7 leaders which can lead to the imposition of more sanctions on Russia.
