APRussian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Putin made the announcement in a televised speech at the same time as the UN Security Council was urging him to give peace a chance.
Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
He said the order was the consequence of the threats coming from Ukraine, adding that Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime.”
Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat. Minutes after the speech, Reuters reported of gunfire in the Ukrainian capital.
There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Putin's remarks, but US officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine. Putin's move rebukes months of talks with to descalate a crisis triggered by the presence of nearly 200,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border. His orders, West fears, could spark the largest land war in Europe since World War II.
Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
He said the order was the consequence of the threats coming from Ukraine, adding that Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime.”
Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat. Minutes after the speech, Reuters reported of gunfire in the Ukrainian capital.
There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Putin's remarks, but US officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine. Putin's move rebukes months of talks with to descalate a crisis triggered by the presence of nearly 200,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border. His orders, West fears, could spark the largest land war in Europe since World War II.
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