Ukraine conflict: horrified West swears revenge on Putin - Great Britain takes action

Created: 02/25/2022Updated: 02/25/2022 09:13

By: Astrid Theil, Stephanie Munk

Shock in the Ukraine conflict: Russia has begun the invasion, bombs are falling.

The international horror is great.

All current news in the ticker.

• On Thursday night, February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine.

  There were explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including near the capital Kiev.

• US President Joe Biden* reacted immediately and accused Russian President Putin* of deliberately choosing war.

• The G7 countries have strongly condemned Russia's attacks and described them as a "serious threat"

  (updated February 24, 6:04 p.m.).

• This

  news ticker on the international reactions to the Ukraine crisis

  is constantly updated.

Update from February 24, 6:50 p.m .:

The government in London has responded to the Russian attacks on Ukraine with comprehensive sanctions.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a flight ban for the Russian airline Aeroflot in Parliament on Thursday evening.

In addition, the accounts of other Russian businessmen from the banking and defense sectors would be frozen.

The British government had already summoned the Russian ambassador to London in the afternoon.

Johnson also did not want to rule out an exclusion from the SWIFT payment system.

Russia will now be pushed a little further out of the global economy "day by day, week by week", said the Prime Minister on Thursday afternoon in the London House of Commons.

Johnson said they wanted to “completely exclude Russian banks from the UK financial sector.” Russian banks should no longer be able to trade in pounds or conduct clearing activities in the UK financial market.

In addition, the sums that Russian citizens can deposit in British accounts should be limited.

"Oligarchs in London will not be able to hide," Johnson announced.

Ukraine conflict: Biden speech on Russian attacks postponed

Update from February 24, 6:30 p.m .:

As the White House announced, the US President’s speech will be delayed by one hour.

Instead of the planned 6:30 p.m., Joe Biden will not give his speech on Russia’s military escalation in the Ukraine crisis until around 7:30 p.m.

Update from February 24, 6:25 p.m.:

The speech announced for 6:30 p.m. by US President Joe Biden, who had already sharply criticized Russia’s actions in the afternoon, is eagerly awaited.

A live ticker for Biden's speech can be found here.

Ukraine conflict: G7 states see "serious threat" to international order

Update from February 24, 6:04 p.m .:

The G7 countries have classified Russia’s military operations in the Ukraine crisis as a “serious threat” to the international order.

The "unprovoked and completely unjustified attack" by Russia on Ukraine is "fundamentally changing the transatlantic security situation," according to a joint statement by the heads of state and government of the group of states published on Thursday.

The G7 announced that they would introduce economic and financial sanctions.

The statement went on to say that it condemned the "large-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation against the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine."

Putin himself is accused in the statement of having "brought the war back to Europe".

"He has placed himself on the wrong side of history," the Kremlin chief said.

All members of the international community are urged to "condemn to the strongest possible extent" Russia's attacks.

Ukraine conflict: Biden announces speech - USA must "hold Russia accountable"

Update from February 24, 5:05 p.m .:

US President Joe Biden will give a speech at around 6:30 p.m. (CET) in which he will comment on Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

This was announced by the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after the Russian military offensive, the US President spoke of an "unjustified attack" and a "deliberate war" instigated by Russia.

The US and its allies must "hold Russia accountable" for military actions in the context of the Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine conflict: Czech President on Putin - "the madman must be isolated"

Update from February 24, 4:15 p.m .:

Czech President Milos Zeman has sharply condemned the Russian attacks on Ukraine and also personally attacked Russian President Putin.

He described the attack on Ukraine as an "unprovoked act of aggression".

"A few days ago I said that the Russians are not crazy and will not attack Ukraine.

I have to admit that I was wrong," Zeman said in Prague on Thursday.

With regard to President Putin, Zeman demanded that it was "not just to fight back with words, but with concrete measures." With regard to the Russian head of state, the Czech President said, "The madman must be isolated."

Ukraine conflict escalates: Biden convenes national security council

Update from February 24, 3:18 p.m .:

Due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has convened a meeting of the National Security Council.

According to information from the White House, Biden met with the Security Council in the "Situation Room", a highly secured situation center at US government headquarters in Washington.

A video conference of the heads of state and government of the G7 countries is also scheduled for today, Thursday.

US President Joe Biden is then scheduled to give a speech.

Update from February 24, 2:35 p.m

.: According to Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), Ukraine fears for its existence as a state.

At a joint press conference with Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder, Nehammer described the content of a recent telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“The President of Ukraine started by saying he is reporting from a country where he no longer knows how long it has existed, and he is reporting as President without knowing how long he will be alive,” Nehammer said .

According to the reports, there is heavy fighting in Ukraine, there are many dead, and civilian infrastructure is affected.

Nehammer accuses Russia of violating international law.

So Moscow does not claim the strength of the law, but the law of the strongest.

As a neutral country within the European Union, Austria deeply rejects this.

Furthermore, Nehammer emphasized that a uniform approach by the Europeans with sanctions is now important.

At the same time, however, the thread of the conversation must not break off.

"In a time of death - and this is war - unfortunately the guns speak more than the diplomats.

You have to reverse that,” said Nehammer.

Ukraine conflict: Johnson speaks of an attack on democracy and freedom worldwide

Update from February 24, 1:40 p.m .:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson* is now speaking in a television speech about the Ukraine conflict.

He calls out to the citizens of Ukraine: "We stand by you, we pray for you, we stand by our side." The Russian "dictator" Putin could never extinguish the "flame of freedom" with bombs and rockets.

"No matter how long it takes, we will do everything we can to restore Ukraine's security." The invasion of Russia is an attack on democracy and freedom worldwide.

He announced a "huge package of economic sanctions".

Johnson also hinted that Britain could supply more arms to Ukraine.

Update from February 24, 1:02 p.m .:

Israel has sharply criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The Russian attack on Ukraine is a serious violation of the international order," Foreign Minister Jair Lapid said on Thursday.

Israel "condemns" this attack.

Lapid promised humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian population.

Lapid further stressed that Israel has "deep, stable and good relations" with both Russia and Ukraine.

"Hundreds of thousands of Jews" live in both countries, and their safety is "the top priority" in Israeli considerations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "heavy blow to peace and stability in the region".

"We reject Russia's military action," Erdogan said in a televised speech. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara had branded the Russian attack on the neighboring country as "unacceptable" and called on Moscow to stop the "unjustified and unlawful" invasion.

Ukraine conflict: NATO wants to defy Putin - "We are now at war in Europe"

Update from February 24, 12:27 p.m .:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has just made a statement after an emergency meeting of the 30 NATO ambassadors in Brussels.

"We now have a war in Europe on a scale we only know from history," he says.

"This is a difficult moment for security in Europe." Russia also targeted urban centers in Ukraine, and the attack had been planned for a long time.

"Despite the countless lies and propaganda, it speaks a clear language," says Stoltenberg.

"This is an act of aggression against a sovereign, independent and peaceful country." NATO is calling on Russia to immediately refrain from military action and to return to the negotiating table.

Russia is trying to rewrite history.

The NATO Council that met today was convened by several Eastern European countries that now also feel threatened by Russia.

Stoltenberg assures these countries of support: "NATO's core task is to protect all allies, there is no gray area, that's clear." An attack on one country is seen as an attack on everyone.

The NATO Council therefore decided today to activate its defense plans in Eastern Europe.

“This will enable us to increase forces where they are needed.

We have placed our defensive troops on heightened defensive alert.

Allies have sent thousands more troops.

Several hundred of our fighter jets are on high alert," says Stoltenberg.

"We will do everything necessary to protect ourselves." Stoltenberg clarified that no troops will be sent to Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO.

He also convened a meeting of NATO leaders.

The Kremlin's goal is to use force to expand its sphere of influence and tear up global security rules.

“Unfortunately, this is now our new normal for our security architecture.

We can no longer take peace for granted.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sharply condemned Putin.

© Virginia Mayo/AP/dpa

Update from February 24, 12:18 p.m .:

Because of the Russian attack on Ukraine, NATO has convened a virtual crisis summit for Friday.

This was announced by diplomats on Thursday after an emergency meeting of the 30 NATO ambassadors in Brussels.

An official statement said the military alliance would take "additional steps" to protect allies.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) suggested "that the heads of state and government of the NATO countries meet very soon to discuss the situation," Scholz said in a statement on Thursday.

At the same time, Scholz assured his solidarity with the NATO partners who are particularly close to Russia.

Addressing Poland, Romania and the Baltic States, he said: "I would like to expressly assure you that we understand your concerns only too well in view of this development.

We will be by your side.”

Graphic: Previous points of attack in the Ukraine conflict

Update from February 24, 11:33 a.m .:

Lithuania will declare a state of emergency because of the Russian attack on Ukraine.

"Today I will sign a decree declaring a state of emergency," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after a meeting of the National Defense Council on Thursday.

In addition, Lithuania is applying to activate Article 4 of the NATO treaty.

This provides for consultations if an Ally sees its security and territorial sovereignty threatened.

According to diplomats from NATO countries, Poland, Romania, Estonia and Latvia have also called for the article to be activated.

Because of the danger of an invasion of Ukraine, NATO recently massively increased its troops on the eastern flank, including in Lithuania.

Germany sent another 350 soldiers to the Baltic state.

Overall, Germany is involved with almost 1,000 soldiers in the so-called NATO battle group in Lithuania.

The Baltic states have long felt threatened by their large neighbor Russia.

Ukraine conflict: China defends Putin and attacks the West

Update from February 24, 11:02 a.m .:

After the Russian military actions in Ukraine, China avoided direct criticism of Moscow and instead attacked the United States and other Western countries for their arms deliveries.

"The Ukraine issue is complex in its historical background," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing on Thursday. "What we see today is the interplay of complex factors." 

Hua Chunying accused the United States and other Western countries of fueling the conflict by supplying arms.

“Guns can never solve all problems.

So I don't think this is the time for anyone to add fuel to the fire.

Instead, we should give peace a chance,” said the spokeswoman, who also recalled previous US military actions.

"You define the Russian action as an invasion, but I wonder if the US took unilateral military action against Afghanistan and other countries, what words did you use at the time?

Were they invasions or something else?” asked Hua Chunying.

These military actions would have resulted in many civilian casualties. 

"We still hope that the parties concerned will not close the door to peace and instead engage in dialogue and consultation," said the spokeswoman on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

China is closely monitoring the situation.

"We urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control," the spokeswoman continued. 

Update from February 24, 10:50 a.m

.: Estonian President Alar Karis said on Thursday in a statement on the Ukraine conflict *: “The absurd pretenses of the Russian leadership to attack Ukraine are wrong, unfounded and criminal.

They were invented so that President Putin could justify aggression against a nation that has never threatened Russia.”

Update from February 24, 10:20 a.m

.: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke of a “dark day for Ukraine, Europe and the whole world” and promised “very strong” EU sanctions against Russia.

"A country is responsible for that, a person is responsible for that," said Rutte on Thursday in The Hague before a crisis meeting of his government, "the country is Russia, the person is Vladimir Putin".

First report on the Ukraine conflict: "Barbaric attack" - West shocked - "Putin will be held accountable"

Washington/Berlin/London - After Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday night, there was great dismay around the world.

Many international heads of state and government have pledged their support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

US President Joe Biden has condemned the "unprovoked and unjustified" Russian attack on Ukraine.

“President Putin has deliberately chosen a war that will bring catastrophic deaths and human suffering.

Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will bring.” Tough sanctions would follow, according to Biden: “The world will hold Russia accountable.” 

Ukraine Conflict: Russia Starts War - International Reactions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz* said: “The Russian attack on Ukraine is a blatant breach of international law.

Nothing can justify him.

Germany condemns this ruthless act by President Putin in the strongest possible terms.” Scholz continued: “This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.”

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the UK, tweeted: "In launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine, President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction.

Ukraine conflict: "We condemn this barbaric attack"

On Thursday evening, an EU crisis summit is to discuss another package of sanctions against Putin.

The EU had already decided on a first package after recognizing the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and sending Russian soldiers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is bringing war back to Europe, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday morning in Brussels.

"We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments used to justify it." The EU stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Russia's goal is not only the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass, nor Ukraine.

“The goal is stability in Europe and the entire international peace order.

And we will hold President Putin accountable for this.”