Vladimir Putin mentioned he has ordered a full-scale navy invasion towards Ukraine and demanded Kyiv’s military lay down its weapons, launching what could possibly be the biggest battle in Europe for the reason that second world conflict.
In an deal with broadcast on Russian state tv shortly earlier than 6am, Russia’s president claimed he was not planning to occupy Ukraine however vowed Moscow would punish all those that stood in its manner.
“The objective is to defend individuals who have been victims of abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime. And we are going to try to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine. We may even hand over everybody who dedicated bloody crimes towards civilians, together with Russian residents, to justice,” Putin mentioned.
“All accountability for the attainable bloodshed will likely be totally and utterly on the conscience of the ruling regime,” he added.
In Kyiv earlier than daybreak on Thursday morning, Monetary Occasions reporters heard explosions in what seemed to be an indication of navy motion. Social media customers in Ukraine reported listening to blasts in different cities, together with Kharkiv and the Ukrainian-controlled japanese metropolis of Kramatorsk within the Donbas.
Ukraine’s overseas minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter: “Putin has simply launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceable Ukrainian cities are below strikes. It is a conflict of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and can win. The world can and should cease Putin. The time to behave is now.”
Brent crude costs rose above $100 a barrel for the primary time since 2014 within the minutes following Putin’s announcement. The worldwide oil benchmark hit $100.07, up about 3 per cent, earlier than buying and selling decrease once more.
Putin seemed to be wearing the identical go well with and tie he wore on Monday in a unique speech during which he recognised two separatist territories in japanese Ukraine’s Donbas area, suggesting the video might have been pre-recorded.
The Kremlin on Thursday revealed letters from two separatist leaders who requested Putin to make use of Russia’s armed forces to drive again “Ukrainian aggression”.
Russia claims, primarily based on little or no proof, that Ukraine is attacking the separatist-held territories within the Donbas, the place greater than 14,000 have died in a as soon as slow-burning battle that broke out after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Putin warned different nations towards “the temptation of meddling within the ongoing occasions” and mentioned Russia’s response will “lead you to penalties that you’ve got by no means encountered in your historical past”.
“Right this moment’s occasions usually are not tied to hurt the pursuits of Ukraine and the Ukrainian individuals. They’re about defending the pursuits of Russia itself towards those that have taken Ukraine hostage and attempt to use it towards our nation and its individuals,” Putin mentioned.
US president Joe Biden mentioned the “prayers of your complete world are with the individuals of Ukraine tonight” as he accused Putin of launching a “premeditated conflict that may convey a catastrophic lack of life and human struggling”.
“Russia alone is liable for the demise and destruction this assault will convey, and america and its allies and companions will reply in a united and decisive manner. The world will maintain Russia accountable,” Biden mentioned in an announcement a number of minutes after Putin spoke on Russian tv.
Biden mentioned he would meet G7 counterparts on Thursday morning and would then reveal additional measures to punish Russia for the invasion.
Crude oil costs had risen in latest days as tensions escalated and western governments imposed sanctions on Russia following Putin’s recognition oft two breakaway areas in japanese Ukraine.
The US has mentioned that it might launch oil from its emergency stockpile within the occasion of any disruption to power provides.
Ukrainian ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya demanded that Russia relinquish its presidency of the UN Safety Council at an emergency assembly of the physique and accused Putin of declaring conflict on Ukraine in a terse alternate with Moscow’s envoy.
“The ambassador of the Russian Federation, three minutes in the past, confirmed that his president declared a conflict on my nation,” mentioned Kyslytsya. “Ought to I play the video?”
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, responded: “This isn’t referred to as a conflict. That is referred to as a particular navy operation within the Donbas.”
However Kyslytsya mentioned, as a closing comment: “There isn’t a purgatory for conflict criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador.”
In a second speech to the UNSC emergency assembly, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield acknowledged that Putin had “ordered that final step” because the council sat.
“As we’re gathered within the council in search of peace, Putin delivered a message of conflict in complete disdain for the accountability of the council,” mentioned Thomas-Greenfield.
“The council might want to act and we are going to put a decision on the desk tomorrow.”
