Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russia had no choice but to defend itself, against the NATO Alliance which has been moving east wards towards Russia’s borders in previous years.
With a hard-edged tone in his voice, he seemed to threaten the US, Europe and NATO which, in just a few minutes, would witness his armed forces opening fire on Ukraine, something the Kremlin had consistently dismissed as western “hysterics.”
“Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history,” Putin warned. “We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made.”
Putin, who for years had criticized the West for ignoring his complaints about NATO’s expansion toward Russia’s borders, was finally striking back with fury. “I hope,” he concluded his short address, “that I have been heard.”
President Joe Biden of the US has threatened to impose harsh economic sanctions on Russia, working together with Europe and NATO.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin’s actions will not be tolerated and that all the avenues will be explored starting with diplomatic, poltical and military options.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia must stop with its activities in Ukraine immediately.
Since the start of the war in the early hours of today, Russia has shelled around 16 Ukrainian targets, including taking over an airport near the capital Kyiv. Russia also claims that it has established air superiority in Ukraine, having destroyed that country’s air defences.
Armored movements have entered Ukraine from the Eastern side, from Crimea (which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014) in the South and from Russia’s ally Belarus in the north.
