Was this an invasion? The ambiguity was short-lived.
Russian ground forces quickly captured Chernobyl’s nuclear site north-of Kyiv. Other Russian troops were also seen moving towards Kharkiv (the country’s second largest city to the east). Officials from the Pentagon said that this was the first phase in a Russian war. Its ultimate goal appeared to be the “decapitation” of the Ukrainian government. This would have meant the forceful removal of its elected leaders.
Two days before Russian forces moved into eastern Ukraine’s separatist areas, President Joe Biden declared that it was “the beginning of an invasion by Russia”. He used different terms when he announced new economic sanctions for Moscow. He called it “brutal assault” and stated that “this is a premeditated strike.”
Biden stated that Putin chose this war and that the United States and other countries will respond with non-military measures. Biden announced that the United States would impose sanctions on Russian banks, oligarchs, and high-tech industries. The West’s primary tool to punish Putin is the U.S. sanctions and other international sanctions. Unless he expands the war into NATO territory the U.S. will not join the fighting.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE ON THE GROUND?
It is not clear what the full extent of the Russian invasion was. Putin used a deadly combination of attacks to attempt to stop Ukrainian commanders from directing a coherent defense. Putin appeared to be setting the stage for an intensifying attack.
Putin announced his “special military operations” and stated that his goal was “demilitarize Ukraine”, a euphemism to destroy its armed forces. It remains to be seen if that means capturing control of the whole country in addition to Kyiv.
The Ukrainian forces were fighting back but it was difficult to gauge the effectiveness and scale of their defenses in the early stages.
IS THIS A INVASION?
Even though the U.S. declared it an invasion, news agencies, including The Associated Press were reluctant to call it that until they could confirm that ground forces entered Ukrainian territory after the initial wave.
Biden stated that there is no doubt that Putin planned to invade the United States in his remarks at the White House on Thursday.
Biden stated that Vladimir Putin had been planning this for months. This is what we have been saying since the beginning. He moved more than 175,000 troops, military equipment and personnel into positions at the Ukrainian border. You can learn all you need about his intentions by reading the entire text.
Mary Ellen O’Connell is a Notre Dame professor of law and an expert in international law. She claims that any attempt to cross a national frontier with military forces without authorization is illegal, even if it’s not called an invasion. She called Putin’s invasion the “most serious violation of international laws in Europe since World War II” on Thursday.
O’Connell stated that “he and his leadership are criminally liable for the deaths and destruction occurring as Ukraine attempts defend its existence as an independent country.” “Other countries in the world have certain obligations towards Ukraine and the rule law. It is not necessary to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. It is not necessary to take every step except that one.
WASHINGTON: WHAT WILL IT DO NEXT
Biden has publicly stated that Russia invaded Ukraine again after seizing the Crimean Peninsula. Now, it is up to Biden to respond. Although he has stated publicly that he will not send U.S. soldiers into Ukraine, he authorized the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Europe on Thursday. According to the Pentagon, Biden has approved the sending of approximately 7,000 additional troops. This includes an Army brigade with armored forces and support soldiers. According to the Pentagon, they will be deployed to Germany to reassure NATO Allies and deter Russian aggression.
The global reaction to Putin’s invasion in Ukraine was swift and there has been little debate about its legality.
Secretary-general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg called the invasion an unprovoked, unjustified attack on Ukraine.
He said, “We now have wars in Europe, on scales and types we thought belonged to history.”
RUSSIAN TROOPS WILL STOP INVADING UKRAINE.
While Putin has not indicated that he plans to launch a war against NATO territory, the allied countries remain concerned. The Biden administration sent more troops to Poland and established a stronger military headquarters staff in Germany. It also moved 1,000 troops from Germany into Romania, and sent combat aircraft to other Eastern European nations.
Biden stated that he will participate in a conference via videoconference Friday with other heads of NATO governments to evaluate the war in Ukraine, and to coordinate a strategy to respond to the crisis.
He stated that the United States would defend NATO territory “with all its power”