By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Before the crack of dawn, just before explosions began in cities across Ukraine, Russian state television unexpectedly broadcast an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two self-proclaimed “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk, in the breakaway Ukrainian region of Donbas, which he had officially recognized as independent less than two days before, had “turned to Russia with a request for help,” he said. To answer that call he was launching a “special military operation.” Its purpose: to “demilitarize” and “denazifiy” Ukraine.
Within minutes, Russian missiles began hitting targets in Ukraine. “Our actions are self-defense against threats,” he told his fellow Russians, claiming Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukraine. “We do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone,” he insisted.
Putin described the “special military operation” in limited terms, to protect people living in Donbas who, he claimed, had been subjected to “genocide,” a charge that Ukraine has strenuously denied. But in the next breath, he lashed out more broadly: “NATO supports Ukrainian neo-Nazis … our actions are self-defense against threats.”
Then, in an extraordinary passage, he spoke directly to members of Ukraine’s military, at that very moment in the crosshairs of the Russian military. Addressing them as “dear comrades,” he told them they had taken an “oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that is robbing Ukraine and abuses those same people.”
“Don’t follow its criminal orders!” he demanded. “I urge you to lay down your weapons and go home.”
As he has done so many times before, Putin claimed Russia had no choice but to defend itself. 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.
“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.”
Meanwhile President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled harsh new sanctions on Russia meant to punish the country for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression even as he acknowledged it would take time for the new measures to alter Putin’s behavior.
“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,” Biden said, laying out a set of measures that will “impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time.”
The targets were not limited to Russia. The US also went after individuals in Belarus, including the country’s defense minister, for that country’s role in facilitating the Russian attack.
And he announced a new deployment of ground and air forces to NATO’s eastern flank, even as he reiterated US troops would not engage in direct conflict in Ukraine.
“Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict,” he said. “Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east.”
Biden addressed the nation from the White House East Room, his first appearance in public since the Russian attack commenced late Wednesday. In his remarks, Biden cast Russia’s invasion of its neighbor as a generational moment that has the potential to upend global order.
“Putin’s actions betray a sinister vision for the future of our world, one where nations take what they want by force,” he said.
He declared the Russian president’s actions would “end up costing Russia dearly, economically and strategically.”
Crowds gathered at Place de la République in central Paris on Thursday evening in a show of support for Ukraine, with many carrying the Ukrainian flag, according to CNN’s team in Paris.
The rally was one of two organized on Thursday to show support for Ukraine, including a protest staged in front of the Russian Embassy in Paris.
Members of the crowd could be heard chanting “sanctions against Russia.”
Some Ukrainian expatriates living in France were also present at the rally.
Slava – a Ukrainian national who declined to give her last name for safety reasons – told CNN, “I am here to support my country.”
Putin warned the country’s business leaders that he expected “restrictions” on Russia’s economy, but said Russia had taken a “necessary measure” by launching a large-scale military offensive against Ukraine.
In remarks aired Thursday on state television, Putin said:
“What I wanted to say first – the most important thing, so you all understand – what is going on was a necessary measure. They didn’t leave us any chance to act otherwise. They created such risks in the sphere of security that it was impossible to react in a different way. All our efforts came out to zero. […] They created such risks that it’s difficult to comprehend how our country could have continued to exist.”
US and Western leaders have pledged harsh sanctions, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urging the West to ban Russia from the SWIFT international payments system. Putin noted that Russia remained part of the global economic system, but warned of further “restrictions” to the Russian economy and called for business to work “in solidarity” with the government.
“It seems to me that our partners should understand this and not set themselves the task of pushing us out of this system,” Putin said. “Nevertheless, for political reasons, these restrictions will happen.”
US President Joe Biden is set to announce further sanctions on Russia in the next hour.
US President Joe Biden met with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies on Thursday morning to map out more severe measures against Russia after President Vladimir Putin launched what Biden called “a premeditated war” against Ukraine.
Biden, who spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy late on Wednesday, convened his National Security Council earlier on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, according to a White House official.
The virtual meeting between the United States and its allies was underway, the White House said, as the group prepared to respond to what Biden in a statement late Wednesday called “an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces” on Ukraine.
“President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Biden wrote.
It came shortly after Putin told Russian state TV he had authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine and explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the breakaway eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
Biden will announce “the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia” later on Thursday, the White House said. He will also address the nation at 12 pm EST (1700 GMT), according to a White House official.
The US president said Washington would also coordinate with NATO allies “to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance.”
NATO, set to hold an emergency summit on Friday, on Thursday said it was bolstering its troops presence on its eastern flank and putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert.
The European Union wants to “hit” the Moscow leadership with its package of further sanctions regardless of whether SWIFT is included, according to a senior EU diplomat.
Earlier on Thursday, CNN reported that the bloc was undecided as to whether to cut Russia off from SWIFT, a high-security payment network that connects thousands of financial institutions around the world.
The diplomat told journalists in a briefing that the combination of Tuesday’s package alongside the fresh package due to come into effect from Friday, will be “really concentrated to hit the leadership in Moscow and those around Putin and profiting from this war.”
EU leaders are expected to discuss these sanctions during an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday evening.
The diplomat told CNN that they expected “leaders to focus on sharing their thoughts and political positions on the big things and not on discussing in details certain measures.”
“We want the biggest possible package targeting industrial sectors, export controls, financials, maybe a visa policy. SWIFT is one element, but it’s not the focus of attention,” the diplomat told reporters.
The diplomat stressed that SWIFT is “on the table” and will still be considered regardless of whether it’s included in the new package.
“The first priority is now this very maximalist EU sanction package,” they said.
SWIFT may be needed “for things which are very relevant for some EU member states,” the diplomat said, adding that it doesn’t necessarily “mean it’s excluded.”
Earlier today, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania called for Russia to be cut off from SWIFT.
“We want this war to stop here and now. And we are not going to close front doors and back doors, which make it difficult to stop this war started by Mr. Putin as soon as possible,” the diplomat cautioned.
The diplomat stressed the need to keep “some doors open” enabling the dialogue required “to stop a war.”
Despite being asked several times, the diplomat did not address why Russian President Vladimir Putin is not being directly targeted by the sanctions.
EU member states that are “closest to Ukraine” also deserve empathy, the diplomat said, remarking that they are “now faced, in the 21st century, with something we thought we had left behind in the previous century.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs says it has reported 392 instances of shelling by Russian forces in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the ministry said Thursday.
Battles continue practically along the entire territory of southeastern and central Ukraine,” the spokesperson said, noting that six bridges were also destroyed in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Donetsk and Kherson regions.
“Our fighters of Ukraine’s military forces and National Guard, our Border Force, our reservists continue to defend our country. Victory will be ours,” the spokesperson added.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
“South Africa calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine in line with the United Nations Charter, which enjoins all member states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice are not endangered.
“The Republic of South Africa is dismayed at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. We regret that the situation has deteriorated despite calls for diplomacy to prevail.
“Armed conflict will no doubt result in human suffering and destruction, the effects of which will not only affect Ukraine but also reverberate across the world. No country is immune to the effects of this conflict.
“As the UN Secretary-General has indicated, the conflict will have a huge impact on the ‘global economy in a moment when we are emerging from the Covid pandemic and so many developing countries need to have space for the recovery’.
“South Africa emphasises respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
As a nation birthed through negotiation, South Africa is always appreciative of the potential dialogue has in averting a crisis and de-escalating conflict. In line with our strong commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflict, South Africa urges all parties to devote increased efforts to diplomacy and to find a solution that will help avert further escalation.
“The door of diplomacy should never be closed even as conflict has broken out. We also urge all parties to approach the situation in a spirit of compromise, with all sides respecting international law. In light of the escalating conflict, we call on all parties to resume diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the concerns raised expressed by Russia.
“South Africa further calls on all parties to uphold and protect human rights and abide by their obligations in terms of international law and international humanitarian law.
“South Africa continues to support and encourage regional initiatives such as the Minsk Agreements, and we welcome the work of the Normandy Format, the Trilateral Contact Group and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to play its role in the search for peace. The Security Council remains the primary body tasked with the mandate to maintain international peace and security and it must exercise its responsibility fully in this regard. We also believe that the Good Offices of the UN Secretary-General could also make a positive contribution in finding a lasting solution to this conflict.
“The South African Embassy in Kyiv is monitoring developments closely and is also assisting South African nationals in Ukraine.”
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says he expects to discuss the possible deployment of Iskander and S-400 defense systems to Belarus with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the coming days.
“[Thursday or Friday] we will talk with the President of Russia about how to strengthen ourselves here in the western direction,” Lukashenko told state news agency Belta Thursday.
“Today we consulted with the military, and we see that it would be desirable to put Iskanders [missile systems] there and place a battalion or two with S-400s somewhere so that we can actually monitor the situation all the way to Berlin,” Lukashenko said.
“Now the most powerful deterrent would be equipment: Iskanders and S-400 Triumphs. We can manage without them, but it would be nice. Then they would hardly go here,” Lukashenko added.
Belarus and Russia have close military ties, and Russian troops recently deployed to Belarus for extensive military drills.
Britain and its allies will slap a “massive package of economic sanctions” on Moscow for invading Ukraine, “designed in time to hobble the Russian economy,” the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged in a televised address Thursday.
Calling Vladimir Putin a “dictator,” Johnson condemned the Russian president for unleashing war on European continent.
“He has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse. Innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on an entirely innocent population A vast invasion is under way by land by sea and by air,” Johnson said.
Britain is joined in outrage by “friends and allies around the world,” he said, adding that the UK will work with them to “ensure that the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is restored.”
He called the invasion an “act of wanton and reckless aggression,” and said it “not just on Ukraine” but on “democracy and freedom in east Europe and around the world.”
Johnson said he has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to offer his continued support and said that new sanctions would be agreed on Thursday.
The South African government has expressed concern about the ongoing tensions at the Ukraine and Russia border, as the situation – if allowed to further deteriorate – could have regional and global ramifications.
“All parties have much to gain from a negotiated outcome and much to lose from an unnecessary and violent conflict,” the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor said.
South Africa has urged all parties to devote increased efforts to diplomacy and to find a solution that will help de-escalate tensions and avert armed conflict.
South Africa further called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to play a central role in the search for peace.
“The UNSC is the body given the mandate for maintenance of international peace and security, and it must exercise its role fully.
“As South Africa, we believe all the issues of concern to any of the parties must be addressed in inclusive talks led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Security Council, “Pandor said.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the world does not need another war, as “that will result in death and destruction,” hence the call for enhanced diplomacy.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “brutal” and “unprovoked,” while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions.
“We denounce what are unilateral hostile actions in Ukraine. Russia is flagrantly breaching international law and the UN Charter. Russia has chosen war,” Morrison said, speaking to reporters in a press conference Thursday.
“Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms,” Morrison said.
Morrison said the new sanctions would target army commanders, deputy defense ministers and Russian mercenaries “responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression,” as well as businesses that had been involved in the development and sale of military technology and weapons.
On Wednesday, Australia announced sanctions on eight members of Russia’s Security Council.
Morrison said there will be “further waves of sanctions” and that he was discussing with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on taking action against more than 300 members of Russian parliament.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine Thursday ranked among the “darkest hours for Europe” in nearly 80 years, according to the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
Borrell promised “urgent assistance to Ukraine,” as well as supporting evacuation efforts, including of EU staff.
EU sanctions: Speaking alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be “the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented.”
Von der Leyen said she will present “massive and strategic” sanctions against Russia for approval later today.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia must “immediately” end military operations in Ukraine.
“France strongly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately,” he said in a tweet on Thursday. “France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war.”
The French president spoke with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky early Thursday morning, with Zelensky asking for “multiple interventions” to support Ukraine, according to the Elysee Palace.
Zelensky also requested “unity in Europe,” and Macron “assured him of France’s support and solidarity,” according to the Elysee.
Macron also spoke with Charles Michel, president of the European Council, Thursday morning.
European markets opened sharply lower on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine.
In the opening minutes of trade the FTSE 100 fell 2.5%, the French CAC 40 dropped 4% and Germany’s Dax was 4% lower.
Earlier, Asian markets and US stock futures plunged on Thursday as news of the military action emerged. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 3%. Korea’s Kospi dropped 2.6%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost nearly 2% after coming back from a holiday. China’s Shanghai Composite moved 1.7% lower.
US stocks futures also tumbled: Dow futures were down as much as 780 points, or 2.4%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were down 2.3% and 3% respectively.
The broad losses followed a sharp decline on Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow closed down more than 464 points, or 1.4%, posting its fifth straight day of losses. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively.