President Joe Biden on Wednesday denounced Russia's "unprovoked and unreasonable attack" on Ukraine, as he vowed the world would hold Russia and President Vladimir Putin accountable.
"President Putin has chosen a pre-planned war that will bring a devastating loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement after Putin announced military action against Ukraine.
Biden said he would address the nation on Thursday and announce additional steps the US would take beyond the sanctions already imposed.
Just minutes earlier, President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Wednesday night that Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.
Putin said that the action was taken in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He said that Russia has no goal of taking over the country. Putin said Ukraine's "regime" was responsible for the bloodshed.
As Putin spoke, huge explosions were heard in Kiev, Kharkiv and other regions of Ukraine.
Putin warned other countries that he "never saw the consequences" of any attempt to interfere with Russian action.
He added that the Russian military operation is aimed at ensuring the "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian soldiers who lay down their arms will be able to exit the war zone safely.
The President of Ukraine declared martial law and urged civilians in the wake of Russian military strikes.
The strategic movement of Russian forces came as Ukraine prepared to impose a 30-day state of emergency on Wednesday.
Zelensky said late Tuesday that Ukraine wants "silence", but noted that it must act. "But if we keep quiet today, tomorrow we will disappear."
'These dark hours'
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined international condemnation of the Moscow attack and vowed to "hold the Kremlin accountable".
"In these dark hours, the condolences of the times are with Ukraine and innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives," he said in a statement.
The top European official warned earlier this week at the Munich security conference that Moscow could lose access to financial markets and block access to key export goods if an attack occurs.
British Prime Minister on attack
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson echoed other world leaders in a statement posted on Twitter, saying he was "shocked by the horrific events in Ukraine."
Johnson said he spoke to Zelensky about the next steps the UK and allies would take "conclusively."
"President Putin has chosen the path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine," he said. "The UK and our allies will respond decisively."
Ukraine's foreign minister calls for action
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba tweeted: "The world must act immediately. The future of Europe and the world is at stake."
He continued: "To do list: 1. Now disastrous sanctions on Russia, including SWIFT 2. Completely isolating Russia in all respects, in all formats 3. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine 4. Financial aid 5. Humanitarian Help"
Biden calls Ukraine's Zelensky
President Joe Biden speaks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the attacks in Ukraine.
Biden said the Ukrainian president had contacted him and the two discussed the steps the US is taking to garner international support.
In a readout of the call at the White House, Biden said, "He called on world leaders to speak frankly against President Putin's blatant aggression and to stand with the people of Ukraine."
The president confirmed he would impose "severe sanctions" on Russia after meeting with G7 leaders and allies.
"We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the people of Ukraine," he said.
Zelensky's call came after Biden was briefed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
'A new geopolitical reality'
Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko confirmed the attacks in a statement on his Facebook page.
"Missiles have just arrived near military headquarters, airports, military warehouses, Kiev, Kharkov, Dnieper," he wrote. "There are shots fired at the border."
"A new geopolitical reality in the world from today," he said.
Biden gave information on a secure call
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden "meet on a secure call this evening Secretary (State Antony) Blinken, Secretary (Defense Lloyd) Austin, Chairman (Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark) and was informed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing attack on Ukraine by Russian military forces."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister: "Full-scale Invasion"
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba, who met with Biden, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington earlier this week, confirmed Putin launched a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
"The peaceful cities of Ukraine are under attack. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world can and must stop Putin," he tweeted. "The time to act is now."
Reactions from global leaders are coming
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's "reckless attack on Ukraine" and said NATO allies would meet to counter Moscow's latest move.
"This is a serious violation of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security," he tweeted.
Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, called Putin's attack "unprovoked and unwarranted" and said the United Kingdom fully supported the United States' UN Security Council resolution.
"It is a solemn day for Ukraine and the principles of the United Nations," she said. "We and our allies are clear that Russia's actions will have consequences."
Zelensky in emotional address: 'People of Ukraine... want peace'
Just before Putin's announcement, Ukraine's president shrugged off Moscow's longstanding claim that his country is a threat to Russia and warned that an imminent Russian invasion could lead to thousands of deaths.
Zelensky made the remarks in a video address early Thursday.
Speaking emotionally in Russia, he said: "The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But we will fight back if we attack those who threaten our freedom and the lives of our people."
Zelensky says he tried calling Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday but the Kremlin remained silent.
Ukraine's airspace closed
Airspace across Ukraine was closed overnight to civilian air traffic, according to a notice posted to air crew early Thursday local time.
A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 from Tel Aviv to Toronto abruptly ejected from Ukrainian airspace before circling Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.
Condemnation of Putin's actions in eastern Ukraine
The Kremlin's actions attracted widespread condemnation and major sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
"Russia has just announced that it is occupying a large part of Ukraine," President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. And it served as a trigger for the US to impose sanctions targeting Moscow's banks and some elite individuals. Biden said Russia would "pay an even harder price" if the aggression continued.
On Wednesday, Biden announced new sanctions on the Russian-owned gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, as well as the company that oversees its corporate executives, in response to the invasion of Moscow.
United Nations Security Council emergency meeting
The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday night at the request of Ukraine, which it said was an immediate threat of Russian aggression.
The meeting comes two days after the 15-member council held an emergency open meeting, which was also requested by Ukraine. That session saw no support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of independence for the two separatist regions in the east of Ukraine and his declaration that Russian troops were moving there to keep the peace.
The meeting on Wednesday night comes as Council diplomats finalize a draft resolution that Russia says is violating the United Nations Charter, international law and a 2015 Council resolution that seeks to restore peace in eastern Ukraine. Purposefully supports the Minsk Agreements.
He says the proposal would urge Russia to immediately return to compliance.
Blinken: Russia's offensive may begin tonight
The US has reason to believe that Russia may launch a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine before the end of the night, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told "NBC Nightly News" on Wednesday.
"I do," Blinken said when asked if he thought it would happen. "All seems well for Russia to engage in a major offensive against Ukraine."
Asked whether Russia would launch an attack on Wednesday night, Blinken said he "couldn't put a date or exact time" on it, but "everything is fine for Russia going forward."
Biden bans company behind Nord Stream 2 pipeline
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he has directed his administration to impose new sanctions on the company that oversees the Russian-owned gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, as well as its corporate executives, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. .
"These steps are another part of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine," Biden said in a statement. "As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to move forward."
The Biden administration last year used a national security exemption to stop those sanctions from taking effect to improve US ties with Germany, which relies heavily on Russia for its gas supplies. The not yet commissioned pipeline runs from Russia to Germany.
Wednesday's move, made in coordination with the US's European allies, comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday blocked certification of a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Germany.
Biden said, through Putin's actions in Ukraine, the Russian leader has "provided a tremendous incentive for the world to move away from Russian gas and other forms of energy."
The pipeline, owned by Nord Stream 2 AG, is based in Switzerland and controlled by the Russian-based company Gazprom. The company is headed by CEO Matthias Warnig, an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nord Stream 2 has the potential to handle 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. becomes a major point of leverage for
Biden announced other economic sanctions on Tuesday, including blacklisting two Russian financial institutions and its sovereign debt, as well as targeting a handful of "Russian elites" with close ties to Putin.
Russia expels diplomats from Ukraine citing security concerns
According to Russian state media, the Russian government has begun expelling diplomats from Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday announced the evacuation of diplomatic staff from Ukraine, citing security reasons.
According to the TASS news agency, diplomats at the Russian embassy in Kiev, as well as consulates in Lviv, Kharkiv or Odessa, are leaving the country, which is owned by the Russian government.
The agency confirmed that diplomats are burning documents and evacuating the country, while mission flags in Kiev and Odessa have been removed according to reports on the ground.
In a Monday speech denouncing Ukrainian independence and identity, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two separate provinces in Ukraine's east as independent countries and began sending so-called "peacekeeping" forces to the region.
In retaliation, the US and European countries announced a new round of severe sanctions on the Russian elite, financial institutions and entities in the separate provinces themselves.
Ukraine official: Cyber attacks are disrupting government websites
Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation says cyberattacks are disrupting government websites and the websites of some banks in his country.
Mikhail Fedorov said on Wednesday that distributed denial-of-service attacks targeted websites of the Ukrainian parliament, cabinet and foreign ministry.
He said they also blocked or delayed sites at the Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs, which controls the police.
NATO has accused Russia's GRU military intelligence agency of recent cyberattacks in Ukraine and warned that further attacks are likely as tensions escalate over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China opposes US sanctions on Russia
China on Wednesday accused the US of creating "fear and panic" over the crisis in Ukraine, and called for dialogue to de-escalate rapidly escalating tensions.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China opposes the new unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia and reiterates China's old stand.
"While expanding NATO eastward into the vicinity of Russia five times and deploying advanced offensive strategic weapons in defiance of its assurances to Russia, will the US ever face the consequences of pushing a large country over the wall? Have you thought about it?" She tweeted.
He said that the U.S. Tension was escalating by providing Ukraine with defensive weapons, without mentioning Russia's deployment of 190,000 troops to the Ukrainian border. Hua also did not mention attempts by the US, France and others to diplomatically engage Russia.
Sino-Russia relations have grown closer under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing earlier this month. The two sides issued a joint statement supporting Moscow's opposition to NATO expansion into the former Soviet republics and China's claim to the self-governing island of Taiwan.
US, EU impose sanctions on Russia
The sanctions outlined on Tuesday targeted two Russian banks, VEB and military bank Promsvyazbank, along with penalties on the country's sovereign debt. The Biden administration said those moves would most likely be crippling.
US Officer U.S. Targeted First described the bank as "a proud piggy bank for the Kremlin, with over $50 billion in assets." He said that Promsvyazbank finances the activities of the Russian army.
"It means we have cut Russia's government from Western funding," he said. “It can no longer raise funds from the West and trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets.”
Russian oligarchs were also targeted, including: Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Vasilievich Bortnikov and his son Denis; Petr Mikhailovich Fradkov, President and CEO of PSB, or Promsvyazbank; and Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko, the first deputy chief of staff of the presidential office, and his son Vladimir.