World leaders have expressed outrage over Russia’s attack on Ukraine with numerous Western nations vowing to impose crippling sanctions on Moscow.
In the latest updates on sanctions and reactions, US President Joe Biden in a press conference has said that there was a “complete rupture right now in US-Russian relations if they continue on this path that they’re on”. Responding to a question, he said that he had no intention of speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his speech, he also reiterated a previous stance of the US according to which troops would not be sent directly to Ukraine’s aid to engage in military combat. The troops would just help defend the country’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisations (NATO) allies in the east.
The US leader also levelled more sanctions on Russia, while labelling President Putin as the “aggressor” in the situation. The sanctions would impact four more banks, in addition to those in the first wave. The country’s second largest bank, VTB, would be included in the sanctions.
Biden said that, “This will impose severe costs on the Russian economy both immediately and over time.”
Hours ago the same day, Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky said that a “new iron curtain” was falling to shut out Russia from the “civilised world”. He added that Ukraine was concerned with ensuring that the iron curtain did not fall across the country itself.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen termed the invasion as a “barbaric attack” on an independent nation that also compromised the “stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order”.
She said the sanctions she would present to the EU leaders would target “strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia”.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell mirrored her statements and said the bloc would impose “the strongest package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented”.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also condemned the Russian invasion into Ukraine saying the move was unjustified. He said innocent Ukrainian citizens would pay the cost of Russia’s move.
Morrison further called on Moscow to cease its moves saying it was breach of international law and a violation of the United Nations Charter. Morrison also said that he would be imposing financial sanctions on 25 individuals and four entities in Russia.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the invasion a catastrophe for Europe. He said he would meet with the G7 leaders and call for an urgent NATO meeting. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she had summoned the Russian ambassador to condemn “Russia’s illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine”. She said UK would be imposing crippling sanctions on Russia.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta also condemned the Russian invasion calling it an act of clear violation. She termed Moscow’s actions as a violation of international laws.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country will work alongside the international community in the current situation.
Meanwhile, China has denounced the sanctions put on Russia advising its citizens living in Ukraine to stay home. It advised Chinese citizens in Ukraine to put on a Chinese flag on their vehicles when travelling.
The Ukrainian envoy to India Igor Polikha said Ukraine sought help from the international community and [issuing of] condemnation of all kinds. He criticized Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip to Russia saying now was not the time to hold bilateral events as India’s neighbor (Pakistan) was doing.
