Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russia was attacking his country’s “military infrastructure” and border guards, but urged citizens not to panic and vowed victory.
In a video message posted on Facebook after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine, Zelensky also introduced martial law across the country, adding that he had spoken by phone with US President Joe Biden.
Talked to @POTUS, @OlafScholz, @eucopresident, @AndrzejDuda, @BorisJohnson. Urge to stop Putin, war against 🇺🇦 & the world immediately! Building an anti-Putin coalition. Immediate sanctions, defense & financial support to 🇺🇦! Close the airspace! The world must force 🇷🇺 into peace
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022
“This morning, Russia launched a new military operation against our state,” Zelensky said in a separate message posted on the presidential website.
“This is a completely groundless, cynical invasion,” he said.
“We, the citizens of Ukraine, have been determining our own future since 1991,” he said in reference to the year of the Soviet Union’s collapse.
“But now, what is being decided is not only our country’s future but also the future of how Europe will live.”
