President Biden vows united and decisive action.
The United States government has reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a military operation in Ukraine.
In a statement by President Joe Biden on Thursday February 24, he announced a meeting with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom to discuss the next cause of action by the G7.
“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.
“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” the statement read.
Current situation in Ukraine after Russia invasion
According to Bloomberg’s Quicktake, smoke was seen over Kharkiv city in Ukraine’s northeast region on Thursday morning, and sounds of explosions were also reported.
What caused the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
The tension over Ukraine has been building up for months, but escalated quickly this week, when, on Monday, Putin delivered an hour-long speech denying Ukrainian statehood.
He recognized the independence of two breakaway regions (Donetsk and Luhansk) in eastern Ukraine where Moscow has backed separatists since 2014, and sent in ‘peacekeeping forces’ into the region.
Over the last few months, Putin had amassed close to 190,000 troops near the Ukrainian border.
Kenya’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Kenya waded in on the tension between Russia and Ukraine during the United Nations Security Council’s urgent meeting on Monday, February 21, 2022.
The speech was delivered by Kenya’s permanent representative to the UN ambassador Martin Kimani.
Ambassador Kimani expressed Kenya’s strong concern and opposition to the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.
