Here's what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis first thing this morning, as Russia continues a major military assault.
- Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday in the biggest attack by one state on another in Europe since WWII.
- Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas, and missiles rained down.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said his aim was to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.
- NATO put warplanes on alert. It will reinforce troops on its eastern flank but has no plans to deploy any in Ukraine, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged citizens prepared to defend the country to come forward.
- US President Joe Biden met his Group of Seven counterparts online to map out more severe measures against Russia.
- Biden will speak on Ukraine at 12:30pm Eastern Time (US).
- European Union leaders will agree a second package of sanctions on Russia on Thursday evening, a senior official said.
- Russia would respond to sanctions with "tit-for-tat" measures, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
- Other European countries started preparations to receive people fleeing Ukraine.
- A mood of defiance gripped Kyiv even though the city echoed to the sound of gunfire, sirens and explosions. The mayor said he would impose a curfew.
- Stock markets tumbled. Russia's rouble hit an all-time low.
- The global finance sector was struggling to respond to the invasion, with share prices suffering heavy falls.
- Major buyers of Russian oil were struggling with bank guarantees, according to sources.
Quotes
- "I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide," Putin said. "We will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine."
- "Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom," Zelensky said.
- "Russia is using force to try to rewrite history... We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine. What we do is defensive," said Stoltenberg.
- "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Joe Biden said.
Coming events
- Biden also convened his National Security Council.
- EU leaders were discussing further sanctions.
- NATO will hold an emergency summit on Friday.
- The UN Security Council will discuss a resolution condemning the invasion.
- Reuters