Vladmir Putin has actually informed world leaders that they ‘will face consequences greater than any in history’ if they disrupthis invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian President gave a chilling warning to the West after declaring war on his neighbour.
In an early morning broadcast he said: ‘To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside – if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history.’
The United Nations Security Council had just convened an emergency meeting when Putin took to Russian airwaves to announce the invasion at 5:50am Moscow time.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN urged Putin to stop his tanks.
‘If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart,’ said Guterres.
‘President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.’
Putin ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a ‘special military occupation’.
He said he wants to ‘demilitarize’ and ‘de-Nazify’, not occupy, the country.
He told Ukrainian service members to ‘lay down their arms and go home,’ saying Russia could not exist with a ‘constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine’ and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were ‘inevitable’.
Shortly afterwards, targets across Ukraine were hit by rocket strikes, including in the capital Kyiv.
Hundreds of civilians are feared to have been killed within hours after a comprehensive attack on military targets and critical infrastructure.
There has reportedly been heavy bombing in Odessa, the seat of Ukraine’s navy, which is feared to have been crippled already.
Troops are flooding into eastern cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol, witnesses have said.
Air raid sirens have sounded across the country and communication systems have been hit by cyberattacks.
Ukraine’s border guards said it was under attack ‘with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and firearms’ in the regions of Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr.
Videos posted on social media showed smoke rising above several Ukrainian cities and there are unconfirmed reports Russian paratroopers have moved to take control of Kyiv.
Russia’s ministry of defence claimed to have ‘disabled’ Ukraine’s air force and ‘incapacitated’ military infrastructure, according to state media.
Thousands of people are attempting to flee Kyiv in panic while Brits still stuck in Ulraine have been urged by the foreign office to ‘get out now’.
Ukrainian authorities have confirmed Russian boots are on the ground inside the country after gun battles and air strikes at various points on the border.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, the president of Ukraine declared martial law and vowed the army would resist.
But he urged global leaders to help by providing defence assistance and protecting its airspace.
Ukraine’s defence ministry said it had shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in its airspace.
The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Russia has launched a ‘full-scale invasion of Ukraine’ and peaceful cities are ‘under attack’.
He stated: ‘This is a war of hostility. Ukraine will protect itself and will win.
‘The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.’
He required ‘devastating sanctions’ on Russia along with monetary, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine in the type of weapons and devices arrangement.
Nato allies have actually formerly dismissed a military action to any intrusion however have actually guaranteed to react with an extraordinary plan of sanctions, a few of which were presented previously today after Moscow officially acknowledged 2 unlawful republics in the Donbas area and sent out in soldiers.
Sorry, this video isn’t offered anymore.
Boris Johnson is because of hold an emergency situation Cobra conference today to talk about the UK’s next actions.
The prime minister stated the UK ‘would respond decisively’ and implicated Putin of picking‘a path of bloodshed and destruction’
.
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly stated brand-new sanctions versus Russia would be revealed ‘in waves’, with additional information launched in the future Thursday.
He informed BBC Breakfast: ‘This will be the biggest and most serious financial sanctions passage Russia has actually ever seen.
The EU will likewise reveal its next actions later on today.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, offered a glance of what was to come in a morning declaration.
She stated: ‘Later today, we will provide a bundle of enormous and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval.
‘With this plan, we will target tactical sectors of the Russian economy by obstructing their access to innovations and markets that are crucial for Russia.
‘We will weaken Russia’ s financial base and its capability to modernise. In addition, we will freeze Russian possessions in the European Union and stop the gain access to of Russian banks to European monetary markets.’
Speaking in Brussels, she included: ‘Like with the very first plan of sanctions, we are carefully lined up with our partners and allies, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, however likewise, for instance, Japan and Australia.
‘These sanctions are designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin’ s interests and their capabilities.’
Why is Russia attacking Ukraine?
Russia has actually been progressively constructing a force of approximately 200,000 on the border for numerous months, greatly surpassing its neighbour’s army.
Ukraine’s armed force has actually been getting ready for an attack with the support of Western allies however there is a gulf in ability in between the 2 countries.
The dispute in between the nations started in 2014 when a popular transformation saw the pro-Moscow federal government in Kyiv swept away.
In action, Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow- backed separatists forces in the eastern Donbas area stated their self-reliance, activating years of grinding dispute which has actually declared countless lives.
Russian president Vladimir Putin penned a long essay in 2015 setting out his ethno-nationalist belief that Ukraine is predestined to be a part of Russia, a clear caution he did not mean to stop at the Crimean peninsula.
United States and UK intelligence has actually long alerted Russia might utilize a series of military techniques to attack Ukraine.
Mr Putin has actually kept the world thinking about his real objectives in current months and sometimes has actually appeared to recommend a determination to engage with diplomatic talks, in spite of getting ready for an attack.
President Joe Biden reacted on Wednesday night, stating: ‘The prayers of the whole world are with individuals of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.
‘President Putin has actually selected a premeditated war that will bring a devastating death and human suffering.
‘Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction 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 accountable.’
Biden included that he would be keeping an eye on the scenario from the White House for the rest of the night and will be getting routine updates from his security group.
On Thursday early morning, the president prepares to meet his G7 equivalents and will talk to the American individuals to reveal 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.’
Get in touch with our news group by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, examine our news page
Get your need-to-know.
most current news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
