Russia-Ukraine crisis Live: Putin announces ‘military operation’ in Ukraine, warns other countries not to interfere
Russia Ukraine Conflict Live News, Russia Ukraine War Crisis News Today, 24 Feb: There still is no clear indication of whether Putin will launch a massed assault on Ukraine with the tens of thousands of troops he has gathered on its borders.
The move comes close on the heels of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement that Russia will invade Ukraine within hours. Russia had earlier said that separatists had asked Kremlin for help to repel Ukranian “aggression”, and as explosions rocked the breakaway eastern city of Donetsk.
Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat. Minutes after the speech, Reuters reported of gunfire in the Ukrainian capital.
As Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, the United Nations is in the middle of an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis. The meeting was requested by Ukraine, which had said that it feared an immediate threat of a Russian invasion.
Putin’s move rebukes months of talks to deescalate a crisis triggered by the presence of nearly 200,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border. His orders, West fears, could spark the largest land war in Europe since World War II.
India on Thursday urged restraint as the Russia-Ukraine crisis snowballed with Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing “military operation” in Ukraine, essentially signaling the beginning of a war.
Matthew Chance hears loud explosions in the Capital City of Kyiv. Unclear where they came from- but they happened just minutes after Putin effectively declared war on Ukraine. Moments later Chance put a flack jacket on live on the air.
President Biden calls Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move into Ukraine an “unprovoked and unjustified attack” and vows “the world will hold Russia accountable”
Mr Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine, but warned that Moscow’s response would be “instant” if anyone tries to take on Russia.
“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Mr Biden said.
In a last-ditch attempt to avert war shortly before Mr Putin’s announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia could start “a major war in Europe” and urged Russian citizens to oppose it.
Mr Zelensky said Russia had almost 200,000 troops and thousands of combat vehicles on Ukraine’s borders.
