Ukraine’s neighbours, including three Baltic countries, Bulgaria and Georgia, condemned Russia invasion of the country on Thusday.
Foreign ministers of The Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement condemning in The Strongest possible way full-scale open Russian aggression against independent, peaceful and democratic Ukraine.”
Emphasizing that “this act of aggression is not acceptable,” the statement read. attack on Ukraine is a “flagrant violation of the international law, of all international standards and a crime against Ukrainian people.”
They urged the international community impose the strongest possible punishments on Moscow, including the exclusion of Russia from international payment communication system QUICK.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Kiril Petkov both condemned Russia’s “absolutely unacceptable” policy. military intervention in Ukraine.
At a joint news conference, Radev said the gates of son countries are open to Bulgarians in Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens seeking asylum.
“We strongly condemn the actions of The Russian Federation. Bulgaria will adopt a common position with NATO against this unacceptable attempt”, Petkov added.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili expressed support for Ukraine and called for a halt to Russian aggression.
“Georgian nation shocked by Russian aggression in Ukraine. We are in solidarity with Ukrainian people and call for a break of the military operations,” she said. on Twitter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military intervention in Ukraine early Thursday, just days after recognizing two enclaves held by the separatists in eastern Ukraine, largely attracting international condemnation and announcements of tougher punishments on Moscow.
The intervention followed a month-long build-up of some 100,000 troops around Ukraine, with Russia has repeatedly denied any intention to launch a invasion.
There was also reports on Thursday of explosions in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyivet several military vehicles would have crossed the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
The EU urges Belarus not to join Russia invasion
Meanwhile, European Union chief Charles Michel has urged Belarus to ‘not participate’ in Russia military aggression on Ukraine, ahead of an emergency European summit to decide new punishments on Moscow over son invasion.
In an appeal to Belarus and its people during media conference at NATO Headquarters, Michel said: “You have the choice not to follow The destructive action of Russia. You have the choice not to participate in this unnecessary tragedy against your neighbors in Ukraine.”
Belarus, a Russian ally that borders Ukraine to the north, has taken in dozens of thousands of Russian troops in son territory in the alarm of mass pro-democracy protests that erupted in 2020 after autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko takes victory in rigged elections.
Belarus allows these troops to cross its border with Ukraine and use their positions to hammer the Ukrainian forces with artillery, according to Ukraine government.
Lukashenko on Thursday said Putin called him to let him know of his military transaction against Ukraine. He said that Belarus national forces “do not participate in this operation.”
