The World Watches As Russia Invades Ukraine, US Order Fresh Sanctions As Punishment

Russia did what the world had been apprehending for weeks now! It invaded Ukraine before the dawn of February 24 and with that, perhaps, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has set the course for the geopolitical situation for the next decade or so. While the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa woke up to huge explosions following the Russian attack, President Putin was equally vociferous as he warned other countries against interfering. He said, in a television speech, "Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history." Putting aside international condemnation and sanction threats, Putin justified the invasion in a televised address. He said that he had ordered the "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region not with an aim to occupy the territory but to protect the rights of the people living in this region. Putin blamed the unbridled expansion of NATO in its neighborhood for its move against Ukraine. Putin said, "I am referring to the expansion of the NATO to the east, moving its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders. It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and inviolable security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure or blackmail, while NATO, despite all our protests and concerns, continued to steadily expand. The war machine is moving and, I repeat, it is coming close to our borders." While introducing martial law in Ukraine, its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured Ukrainians that he had talked to the US President Joe Biden, who, he claimed, was rallying international support for them. He also asked the people to stay home and not to panic. Meanwhile, US President Biden has called Putin's move as an act of aggression and he pledged fresh sanctions against Russia. Biden said in a written statement that the "unprovoked and unjustified attack" on Ukraine was highly condemnable and US as well as its allies "will hold Russia accountable." Russia has struck the Ukrainian air bases as well as other military assets using precision weapons. The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement saying "there is no threat to civilian population."