World leaders have begun to respond as Russia moves military forces into Ukraine early Thursday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemning the action as an 鈥渆gregious attack.鈥�
鈥淭hese unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity,鈥� Trudeau said in a statement.
鈥淐anada calls on Russia to immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country. Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future.鈥�
Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden called Russia鈥檚 move an 鈥渦nprovoked and unjustified attack.鈥�
Biden said in a statement that 鈥渢he prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight.鈥�
鈥淧resident Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,鈥� he said. 鈥淩ussia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.鈥�
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a televised address that Russia would be performing a military operation within Ukraine in response to threats, claiming that the goal is not to occupy the country.
He stated that the Ukrainian 鈥渞egime鈥� would be responsible for any bloodshed.
This comes after weeks of rising tensions and warnings from Biden and other world leaders that an invasion from Russia could be imminent. Putin signed a decree Tuesday recognizing two regions in eastern Ukraine occupied by pro-Russian separatists as independent entities.
Both Trudeau and Biden added in their statements that they would be meeting with G7 nations the following morning to discuss the situation and coordinate with NATO partners on a response.
鈥淚n the face of these attacks on Ukraine, Canada will take additional action to stop Russia鈥檚 unwanted aggression,鈥� Trudeau stated.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly that 鈥淩ussia鈥檚 egregious and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is a challenge to democracy, the likes of which reached new heights today.鈥�
鈥淭hese acts, with profound human consequences, will not go unpunished,鈥� she continued. 鈥淐anada stands with the people of Ukraine.鈥�
The United Kingdom has weighed in as well, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeting that he is 鈥渁ppalled by the horrific events in Ukraine鈥� and had already spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
鈥淧resident Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine,鈥� Johnson stated.
鈥淭he U.K. and our allies will respond decisively.鈥�
Bob Rae, Canada鈥檚 representative to the United Nations, tweeted in response to the Russian action, calling it a 鈥済rotesque warcrime.鈥�
鈥淯nprovoked, evil, aggression,鈥� he continued in . 鈥淔rom a permanent member of the Security Council, during a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations.鈥�
"When Pearl Harbour happened the meetings stopped. War has started."
He was referencing a late-night meeting of the UN Security Council which was taking place while Russian forces moved into Ukraine.
During that meeting, the Ukrainian ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, addressed his Russian counterpart, Vasily Nebenzya, who is the council鈥檚 current president, calling on him to step down as chair and tell Putin to 鈥渟top the aggression.鈥�
鈥淭here is no purgatory for war criminals,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey go straight to hell, ambassador.鈥�
Within an hour of Putin announcing the 鈥渕ilitary operation,鈥� those on the ground in Ukraine were reporting the sound of explosions.
