KYIV - Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet on Thursday.
Interfax Ukraine reported rocket attacks on military facilities throughout Ukraine and that Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol. It also reported staff and passengers evacuating Kyiv's Boryspilairport.
"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Kuleba said,referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."
Meanwhile, the United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
"President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable."
Biden said he would announce on Thursday further measures to be imposed on Russia by the United States and its allies.
The White House said Biden would speak in the early afternoon.
Обстрел военного аэродрома в Краматорске#Краматорск #Война pic.twitter.com/EDi5zv56Ks
— Краматорск (@kramatorsk_ukr) February 24, 2022
Biden's statement came shortly after Putin told Russian state TV he had authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine and explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the breakaway eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
Biden said he would monitor the situation from the White House before meeting virtually with his counterparts from the Group of Seven advanced economies early on Thursday.
Then, he said, he would "speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security."
Biden said Washington would also coordinate with NATO allies "to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance."
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