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Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, described the invasion as “a particular army operation” relatively than a conflict, and Russia mentioned civilians wouldn’t be attacked. However Putin has lied repeatedly within the run-up to the invasion, and it was unclear whether or not these feedback had any which means.
Russia’s Protection Ministry claimed to have disabled all of Ukraine’s air defenses and airbases by about 8 a.m. native time, in line with Anton Troianovski, The Instances’s Moscow bureau chief. (Ukraine is seven hours forward of New York.)
Putin warned different nations that interfering with the invasion would result in “such penalties as you will have by no means earlier than skilled in your historical past.” Some analysts questioned whether or not that line amounted to a menace to make use of nuclear weapons.
Shortly earlier than 7 a.m. native time, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, declared martial legislation and requested individuals to stay at dwelling and keep calm.
Ukrainian forces have shot down six Russian fighters and a helicopter throughout intense battles to take care of management over cities, a senior Ukrainian army official mentioned. Ukrainian troops additionally declare to have repelled, in the meanwhile, Russian advances on two main cities: Chernihiv, within the north close to Belarus, and Kharkiv, within the northeast near Russia’s border.
President Biden condemned the “unprovoked and unjustified” assault, calling it “a premeditated conflict that may carry a catastrophic lack of life and human struggling.” He mentioned he would announce “extreme sanctions” towards Russia as we speak.
Each Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill referred to as for the U.S. to help Ukraine. “If Putin doesn’t pay a devastating worth for this transgression, then our personal safety will quickly be in danger” Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, mentioned. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, mentioned, “The U.S. will stand with our Ukrainian allies,” with continued help, and would maintain Putin accountable. (Right here’s a proof of Republican tensions over Ukraine.)
NATO will maintain an emergency session this morning, in line with The Instances’s Steven Erlanger. “NATO will do all it takes to guard and defend all allies,” Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary normal, mentioned. Ukraine just isn’t a member of NATO, however its rising closeness to the U.S. and western Europe has angered Putin.
Whereas Putin was asserting the invasion, the United Nations Safety Council was in the course of an emergency assembly. It resulted in a exceptional scene, as diplomats reacted to the information. “There is no such thing as a purgatory for conflict criminals,” Ukraine’s ambassador mentioned to his Russian counterpart. “They go straight to hell, ambassador.”
China’s authorities sought to take care of its delicate balancing act on the disaster, reiterating requires diplomacy whereas additionally approving imports of Russian wheat, which might soften the influence of Western sanctions.
On international markets, the value of oil jumped above $100 a barrel. Asian inventory indexes had been down about 3 p.c at 6:20 a.m. Jap.
CNN’s Daniel Dale has compiled a list of reporters in Ukraine.
Right here is a proof of the battle’s background — and a latest Morning publication about why this conflict is completely different from different fashionable wars in Europe.
Many Russians really feel a deep unease about going to conflict.
In Instances Opinion, Richard Haass writes, “The West should present Putin how flawed he’s to decide on conflict.”
You possibly can observe the most recent all through the day on this Instances web page.
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