Moscow has unleashed a military operation in Ukraine at dawn on Thursday 24 February. Artillery fire was heard in major cities across the country. United States, European Union and NATO are threatening Russia with serious consequences.
The announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin of a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday, followed by explosions in several Ukrainian cities, sparked widespread reactions around the world.
At the time of the announcement of the operations by the head of the Kremlin and their launch, the UN Security Council was meeting urgently for the second time this week. The discussions began about twenty minutes before Vladimir Putin announced the military operations on Russian television. As a result, we attended a council in two stages, observed our correspondent at the UN, Carrie Nooten : a first round table to continue to call for de-escalation, then the Ukrainian ambassador put his feet in the dish and challenged his Russian counterpart to confirm that Russia had just kicked off the war. Faced with his bad faith, he even asked him to call Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov live. An incredible scene within the Council.
All members of the body condemned the Russian actions, or just refrained from commenting. They then announced that they would meet this Thursday morning, in a few hours, to vote on a resolution.
And then, it is the whole of the United Nations which is mobilized: the Secretary General, moved, launched a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin ” in the name of humanity » : he asked him to send his troops back to Russia and avoid what will be the worst war since the beginning of the century. All this after a day of statements at the General Assembly where 87 countries spoke – the vast majority condemning Russia.
The details of the reactions
NATO ambassadors meet. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the ” reckless and unprovoked attack of Russia against Ukraine, warning that it jeopardized ” countless » Lives. “ Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless diplomatic efforts, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country Mr. Stoltenberg said in a statement. ” NATO Allies will come together to deal with the consequences of Russia’s aggressive actions. We stand with the Ukrainian people at this terrible time. NATO will do whatever it takes to protect and defend all allies “, he added.
Ukraine denounces a war of aggression. ” Peaceful Ukrainian towns are being attacked. It is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend and win. The world can and must stop Putin. It’s time to act now tweeted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
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The United States holds Moscow for “ responsible “. First to react, US President Joe Biden denounced “ the unwarranted attack of Russia against Ukraine. “ President Putin has chosen (to launch) a premeditated war that will cause catastrophic human suffering and loss Mr. Biden said in a statement. ” Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will cause “, he insisted, assuring that ” the world would demand accountability from Russia “.
US President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He asked him ” to urge world leaders to speak out clearly against President Putin’s blatant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine “.
The President of the United States, who specified that he would speak on Thursday on the ” consequences for Russia of this announcement and would meet the same day with his G7 counterparts, also promises to impose significant sanctions against Russia. “ We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people “, concludes Joe Biden
The European Union will ask for “accounts “. ” We strongly condemn Russia’s unjustified attack on Ukraine. In these dark times, our thoughts are with Ukraine and its innocent women, men and children who face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Kremlin is going to have to accountable warned EU chiefs Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday. The leaders of the Twenty-Seven are due to meet for a summit on Thursday at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. GMT) in Brussels as the EU warned that sanctions “ massive against Moscow would be taken in the event of an attack from Ukraine.
First EU sanctions entered into force on Wednesday evening against Moscow in reaction to Monday’s recognition of the independence of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.
The UN implores Putin. ” President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia! “Launched the head of the United Nations, visibly shaken by the announcement of a Russian military operation in Ukraine in the middle of the emergency session held by the Security Council. ” This is the saddest moment of my tenure as Secretary General of the United Nations “, he added. If the conflict leads to all-out war, it’s hard to predict how dramatic that will be, in terms of how many people will die, how many people will be displaced, how many people will lose hope for the future “, argued the UN Secretary General.
For France, ” Russia has chosen war. » France condemns in the strongest terms the launch of these operations “, denounced the French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière. This decision, ” as this Council meets, illustrates the contempt with which Russia holds international law and the United Nations “, he added. ” We call on Russia to respect international humanitarian law in all circumstances, we call for the protection and respect of all civilians, including vulnerable people, women and children, and humanitarian personnel “, he also launched.
For Germany, a glaring violation of international law. This is the first reaction of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. ” Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President (Vladimir) Putin, our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people “, added in a press release Mr. Scholz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the G7 forum.
It’s about “ a terrible day for Ukraine ” and ” dark for the whole of Europe, added Scholz. He urged Moscow to stop “ immediately his military operation.
The UK promises a response. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the ” horrible events in Ukraine “, believing that Russian President Vladimir Putin” chose the path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack “. ” The UK and our allies will respond decisively he tweeted, adding that he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.