Explosions have taken place in Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently released a video address in which he noted that Russia was planning to launch military operations in eastern Ukraine, aimed at the so-called peacekeeping in the Donetsk and Luhansk Republics.
According to Putin, this is an act of self-defense against the eastward expansion of NATO and means of protecting Ukrainians from “nazification” and a “genocide”, saying that if anyone became involved with his invasion of Ukraine, they would “face consequences greater than any of you have faced in history”.
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba, peaceful cities in Ukraine have become targets of attacks. “This is an aggression against Ukraine, against which they will defend themselves and win.”
Jo Biden, the president of the US, also released a statement, saying: “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.”
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, even mentioned that he plans to meet with the G7 countries in order to respond to the Russian aggression jointly, including by imposing additional sanctions.
Demanding the refusal of Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO, Russia has been mobilizing troops along the Ukrainian border for two months. This was followed by the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The West and the United States have responded by imposing sanctions.
