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PARIS 鈥 French President Emmanuel Macron says France and its European allies did everything to try to head off the attack on Ukraine. He said that they will show 鈥渘o weakness鈥 in their response.
Macron said in a televised address to the nation Thursday that Russia鈥檚 attack is a 鈥渢urning point in European history鈥 and as a result 鈥渢here will be profound consequences for our continent and changes in our lives.鈥
He said that 鈥渢o this act of war, we will reply without weakness, we will reply calmly and in a determined and united manner.鈥
鈥淲e have tried everything to avoid this war but it is here and we are ready,鈥 Macron said.
He said that sanctions will be 鈥減roportionate鈥 to Russia鈥檚 military operations, targeting its economy and its energy sector.
鈥淲e will show no weakness,鈥 Macron said. 鈥淲e will take all measures necessary to defend the sovereignty and stability of our European allies.鈥
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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia 鈥 The Slovak government has authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 soldiers to help guard the border with Ukraine following Russia鈥檚 attack on Slovakia's eastern neighbor.
The defense ministry said Thursday they will be used if there is a massive wave of refugees.
The government said Slovakia is also ready to open more border crossings with Ukraine if needed.
Slovania last week lifted all coronavirus restrictions for potential refugees coming from Ukraine in the case of a Russian invasion.
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ROME 鈥 Italian Premier Mario Draghi says Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine has made dialogue with Moscow 鈥渋mpossible.鈥 He is demanding that Putin 鈥渋mmediately stop the bloodshed and withdraw military forces.鈥
Speaking after an urgent Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Draghi said Russia鈥檚 operation 鈥渃oncerns all of us, our way of living freely, our democracy.鈥
He said Italy, which has kept its embassy in Kyiv open, fully supported 鈥渧ery strong鈥 sanctions against Russia and was coordinating with NATO and EU allies to beef up security on NATO鈥檚 eastern flank. He said that "we are reinforcing our already significant contribution to the military deployments in all the most directly exposed Allied countries.鈥
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HELSINKI 鈥 Latvian authorities say three Russian television channels will have their right to broadcast in Latvia suspended for several years with immediate effect. They cited the channels' incitement to hatred against Ukraine, justification of war and spreading of disinformation on Ukraine, Latvia and other countries.
Latvia鈥檚 National Electronic Mass Media Council said Thursday that there will be a ban on broadcasts of the Rossija RTR channel for five years, Rossija 24 channel for four years and TV Centr International for three years.
European Union and NATO member Latvia is urging other European nations to make a similar decision.
鈥淲e are calling on all European Union member countries to use the evidence we have collected, follow our example and ban these three (Russian) channels in the entire territory of the EU,鈥 said the council鈥檚 chairman, Ivars Abolins.
He said that 鈥渋n the last several years, we have closed 41 programs associated with Russia. Unfortunately, other European countries have not done the same.鈥
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GENEVA 鈥 The head of the U.N. refugee agency is warning of 鈥渄evastating consequences鈥 of Russia鈥檚 military action in Ukraine and calling on neighboring countries to keep their borders open for people fleeing the fighting.
Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, pointed to 鈥渞eports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety鈥 without elaborating.
He said in a statement that UNHCR had stepped up its operations and capacity in Ukraine and its neighboring countries, without providing details.
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KYIV, Ukraine 鈥 Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says that 鈥淩ussia鈥檚 key goal is clear: to oust the Ukrainian leadership and stir up as much panic as possible.鈥
Podolyak said Thursday the Russians 鈥渨ant to cut off part of the country and they moving in in big convoys.鈥
He said that 鈥渨e are seeing attempts to estabilize the situation in big cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv.鈥
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ANKARA, Turkey 鈥 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Russia's military actions in Ukraine violate international laws and amount to a 鈥渉eavy blow鈥 to regional peace and stability.
In an address to an international gathering in Ankara on Thursday, Erdogan said Turkey -- which has enjoyed close ties to both Russia and Ukraine 鈥 鈥渟incerely regrets鈥 that the two countries are confronting each other.
鈥淲e reiterate our call for a resolution of the problems between Russia and Ukraine, with which we have deep historical ties and friendly relations, through dialogue, within the framework of Minsk agreements,鈥 Erdogan said. He was referring to deals that aimed to restore peace in eastern Ukraine.
The Turkish leader said Turkey would 鈥渄o its part to ensure the safety of everyone living in Ukraine,鈥 including Turkish citizens and Crimean Tatars, with whom Turkey shares ethnic and cultural bonds.
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LONDON 鈥 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian President Vladimir Putin has 鈥渦nleashed war in our European continent鈥 and Britain 鈥渃annot and will not just look away.鈥
In a televised address Thursday, Johnson said the U.K. and its allies will agree a 鈥渕assive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy.鈥
鈥淥ur mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure,鈥 Johnson said.
He is expected to give more details about new sanctions later Thursday.
鈥淎 vast invasion is underway by land by sea and by air,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥(Putin) has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse.鈥
The prime minister also said that the West must collectively end its dependence on Russian oil and gas, which 鈥渇or too long has given Putin his grip on western politics.鈥
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GENEVA 鈥 The head of a Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-nuclear group says a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin to anyone who might meddle in Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine amounted to a threat to 鈥渓aunch a nuclear war.鈥
Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, was referring to the Russian leader鈥檚 comments as the attack began that 鈥渨hoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.鈥
Fihn, whose group won the Nobel prize in 2017, said Russia had manufactured a 鈥渇alse justification鈥 for its military action in Ukraine and said Putin鈥檚 warning was 鈥渂asically to launch a nuclear war.鈥
She alluded to recent tests by Russia of intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, saying that they smacked of 鈥渂asically the Russian military practicing mass-murdering civilians.鈥
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BUCHAREST, Romania 鈥 The president of Romania has condemned Russia鈥檚 鈥渞eprehensible鈥 attack on Ukraine and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin 鈥渢hreatens the peace of the entire planet.鈥
Romania borders Ukraine and is a member of NATO and the European Union. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that Russia 鈥渃hose the reprehensible and completely illegal path of massive armed violence against an independent and sovereign state.鈥
Iohannis said that Romania, a country of about 19.5 million people, is ready to deal with economic and humanitarian consequences that the conflict could generate.
He stressed that Romania will not be drawn into the military conflict in Ukraine and said Romanian authorities will take 鈥渁bsolutely all the necessary measures鈥 to ensure the safety of the country鈥檚 citizens.
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PRAGUE 鈥 Czech President Milos Zeman, who has been a leading pro-Russian voice among European Union leaders, has condemned Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine as 鈥渁n unprovoked act of aggression.鈥
Zeman said in an address to the nation that 鈥淩ussia has committed a crime against peace.鈥
A week ago, Zeman said that warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine were a failure by CIA. He said repeatedly he didn鈥檛 believe Russian wanted to attack Ukraine.
鈥淚 admit I was wrong,鈥 Zeman said Thursday. 鈥淎n irrational decision by the leadership of the Russian Federation will cause significant damages to the Russian state.鈥
He called for harder sanctions against Russia, declaring that 鈥渋t鈥檚 necessary to isolate a lunatic and not just to defend ourselves by words but also by deeds.鈥
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BRUSSELS 鈥 NATO鈥檚 secretary-general says Russia has launched war on Ukraine and shattered peace on the European continent.
Jens Stoltenberg called for a summit of NATO alliance leaders for Friday.
Stoltenberg said that 鈥渢his is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion.鈥 And he charged that 鈥淩ussia is using force to try to rewrite history.鈥
Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine earlier Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Ukraine鈥檚 government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border.
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HELSINKI 鈥 NATO member Lithuania, which has borders with Russian ally Belarus and Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, has declared a state of emergency effective early Thursday afternoon due to the situation in Ukraine.
The decree signed Thursday by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda steps up border protection. It gives authorities, among other things, the right to check and inspect vehicles, persons and luggage in the border area.
Lithuania also borders fellow NATO and European Union members Poland and Latvia.
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BERLIN 鈥 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, calling it a 鈥渄ark day for Europe鈥 and expressing his country鈥檚 鈥渇ull solidarity with Kyiv.鈥
Scholz said in a statement at the chancellery in Berlin on Thursday that new sanctions to be imposed on Russia by Germany and its allies would show that 鈥淧utin has made a serious mistake with his war.鈥
Addressing NATO allies in eastern Europe, Scholz said Germany understood their worries in light of the latest developments and stands by its commitments within the alliance.
Scholz said he and French President Emmanuel Macron proposed soon holding an in-person meeting of the heads of government of NATO member states.
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BRUSSELS 鈥 NATO has agreed to beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military offensive in Ukraine.
NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks Thursday that 鈥渨e have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies.鈥
While some of NATO鈥檚 30 member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, NATO as an organization is not. It will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine.
Countries closest to the conflict 鈥 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland 鈥 are among those to have triggered rare consultations under Article 4 of NATO鈥檚 founding treaty, which can be launched when 鈥渢he territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the (NATO) parties is threatened.鈥
鈥淲e have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance,鈥 the envoys said in a statement. 鈥淥ur measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory.鈥
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KYIV, Ukraine -- An adviser to Ukraine鈥檚 president says that Russian forces forged 10-20 kilometers (6-12 miles) deep into the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine and are regrouping to continue the offensive.
But Oleksiy Arestovich said Thursday that 鈥淜yiv is under reliable protection鈥 and 鈥渢hey will face tough battles.鈥
Arestovich said that fighting is going on 4-5 kilometers (2 1/2-3 miles) north of Ukraine鈥檚 second-largest city of Kharkiv, in the country鈥檚 northeast. He said Ukrainian troops destroyed four Russian tanks there.
The adviser said that Russian troops that moved into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea are trying to advance toward Melitopol and Kherson.
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JERUSALEM鈥 Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has condemned Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine as 鈥渁 grave violation of the international order.鈥
Lapid told reporters on Thursday that Israel is prepared to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and urged Israeli citizens to leave the country.
鈥淚srael is a country well-versed in war. War is not the way to resolve conflicts,鈥 he said, adding that there was still a chance for a negotiated solution.
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BUCHAREST, Romania 鈥 Moldova鈥檚 president says the country鈥檚 Supreme Security Council has decided to ask parliament to introduce a state of emergency following Russia鈥檚 attack on neighbouring Ukraine.
President Maia Sandu said Thursday that Russia's attack on Ukraine is a 鈥渇lagrant violation of international norms.鈥
Sandu urged Moldovan citizens in Ukraine to return home. Moldova, a former Soviet republic and one of Europe鈥檚 poorest nations, has a population of around 3.5 million and is not a NATO member.
There are now concerns in Moldova that the neighboring conflict could trigger an influx of refugees. Sandu said that 鈥渁t the border crossing points with Ukraine there is an increase in traffic flow.鈥
She added that 鈥渨e will help people who need our support. At this moment, we are ready to accommodate tens of thousands of people.鈥
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KYIV, Ukraine 鈥 An adviser to Ukraine鈥檚 president says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.
Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that several dozen people have been wounded.
He didn鈥檛 specify whether the casualties included civilians.
Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.
鈥淭he future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian,鈥 he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry鈥檚 assembly facilities.
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ANKARA, Turkey 鈥 Ukraine鈥檚 ambassador to Turkey has called on the NATO member country to close its airspace and to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to Russian ships.
鈥淲e are calling for the airspace, Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to be closed,鈥 Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told reporters on Thursday. 鈥淲e have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side.鈥
A 1936 convention gives Turkey control over the straits connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, and allows it to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if Turkey is threatened.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened an emergency security meeting to discuss the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Turkey, which enjoys close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, had been pressing for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.
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KYIV, Ukraine 鈥 Ukraine鈥檚 president says his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the decision to rupture ties with Moscow on Thursday after it launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbor and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials say the country鈥檚 military is fighting back and asked for Western defense assistance.
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KYIV, Ukraine 鈥 A Ukrainian presidential adviser says that Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south. The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said 鈥渢he Ukrainian military is fighting hard.鈥
Podolyak said Thursday that "our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy.鈥 He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didn鈥檛 give details.
He said that 鈥淯kraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world 鈥 military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia,鈥 he said.
Another adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has targeted air bases and various other military infrastructure.
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BEIJING 鈥 China鈥檚 customs agency on Thursday approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible Western sanctions imposed over Moscow鈥檚 attack on Ukraine.
The two governments announced an agreement Feb. 8 for China to import Russian wheat and barley after Russian President Vladimir became the highest-profile foreign guest to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.
China鈥檚 populous market is a growth area for other farm goods suppliers, but Beijing had barred imports until now from Russia鈥檚 main wheat-growing areas due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.
Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers but its exports would be vulnerable if its foreign markets block shipments in response to its attack on Ukraine.
Thursday鈥檚 announcement said Russia would 鈥渢ake all measures鈥 to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.
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