MONITORING (SW) – US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy soon after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, the White House has said.
Biden “just spoke with Zelensky,” a spokesman said, adding that details would be issued later.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN has told an emergency Security Council meeting that Moscow’s military operation against Ukraine was targeting “the junta” in power in Kiyv.
“I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren’t being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv,” said Vassily Nebenzia.
“President Putin, in the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia,” the secretary-general said.
“In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century,” he said, adding the conflict “must stop now”.
Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says
Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet.
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 Boryspil airport.
“Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” Kuleba said. “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.”
ENDS
