WASHINGTON 鈥� World leaders swiftly condemned Russia鈥檚 military attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with Western capitals pledging new sanctions on Moscow and the UN chief demanding the conflict 鈥渟top now.鈥�
Here are some reactions to the Russian operation:
US聽President Joe Biden
鈥淭he prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,鈥� the US president said shortly after the operation began.
He warned 鈥淩ussia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.鈥�
鈥淭he world will hold Russia accountable,鈥� he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
鈥淚 am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelensky to discuss next steps,鈥� the British leader tweeted.
鈥淧resident Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.鈥�
EU chiefs
鈥淚n these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,鈥� wrote EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel on Twitter.
鈥淲e will hold the Kremlin accountable.鈥�
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg
The NATO head said Russia had 鈥渃hosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.鈥�
The attack 鈥減uts at risk countless civilian lives,鈥� Stoltenberg said in a statement, describing it as a 鈥済rave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security.鈥�
NATO ambassadors are to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday morning European time to discuss the attack.
Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. AFP
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
鈥淭hese unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russia鈥檚 obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN,鈥� Trudeau said in a statement.
He said he would meet with partners from the Group of Seven to shape a collective response, 鈥渋ncluding by imposing sanctions additional to those announced earlier this week.鈥�
鈥淭hese reckless and dangerous acts will not go unpunished.鈥�
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki
鈥淲e must immediately respond to Russia鈥檚 criminal aggression on Ukraine Europe and the free world has to stop Putin,鈥� Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 European Council should approve fiercest possible sanctions. Our support for Ukraine must be real.鈥�
UN chief Antonio Guterres
Guterres made a direct and personal plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin after an emergency Security Council session, urging him to stop the attack 鈥渋n the name of humanity.鈥�
鈥淚n the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he conflict must stop now,鈥� added the UN chief, who said it was the 鈥渟addest day鈥� of his tenure.
Ukraine鈥檚 UN ambassador聽During the charged UN emergency meeting, the Ukraine鈥檚 ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya implored the council, chaired by Russia to 鈥渄o everything possible to stop the war鈥�.
He demanded that Russia鈥檚 ambassador relinquish his duties as chair.
鈥淭here is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador,鈥� the visibly emotional Kyslytsya said.
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