Russian military forces invaded the eastern border of Ukraine this morning heralding the first war on the European continent in the 21st century. In what Russian President Vladmir Putin called “special military operation,” Russian tanks rolled across the border of eastern Ukraine.
Putin framed the troop movement as a “peacekeeping” effort in both regions. His decision to recognize both regions was seen by the U.S. and its European allies as a dramatic provocation and part of a pretext to invade Ukraine, and it led to the U.S. and the European Union to announce sanctions targeting the two areas.
President Biden said the United States response will be severe.
Putin ordered troops into Ukraine on Monday after he formally recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. It is not yet clear if Russian forces have entered those regions.
Geopolitical experts say war in Ukraine could impact Americans’ daily living, including the price at the pump, cost of heating homes and the stock market.
“There’s definitely going to be an economic impact, and you’re absolutely right to say that gas prices are going to go up, and the global economy as a whole is gonna have a hiccup,” Political expert William Muck said. “This is a dramatic development. If war breaks out in Europe, it’s gonna hit all of our pocketbooks.”
The political science professor says it’s time to ask yourself if you want to live in a world where tanks cross borders and what role should the U.S. play to improve peace and stability?
“If you have tanks crossing European borders, that’s not something that’s happened in the 21st century. That’s something that happened in the 20th century, and we saw the war and destruction of the 20th century. So it’s a big deal.”
A war that many thought unthinkable has begun. After several days of ominous signs, Vladimir Putin has announced a “special military operation” with the aim of demilitarising and “denazifying” Ukraine. Within minutes explosions were heard near Kyiv’s airport, which has military and civilian areas, and around the city of Kharkiv. This invasion is a war of choice, conjured out of nothing by Russia’s president. History will judge him harshly. The most immediate question is how far Russia is prepared to go to subdue its neighbour.
A full Russian invasion would be Europe’s biggest war since the 1940s, and the first toppling since then of a democratically elected European government by a foreign invader. Russians would not only suffer casualties, especially during a long-running insurgency, but also cause the death of untold Ukrainians—fellow Slavs, with whom many have family ties. Russia would also suffer heavy sanctions, while ordinary Russians would suffer from lower living standards, which have already been falling over the past seven years.
The United States and its allies will impose “severe sanctions” on Russia after its military forces launched an attack on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities.
Biden said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and briefed him on the steps Washington was taking to rally international condemnation of Russia, including at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Biden said in a statement late on Wednesday.
“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable.”
Bombs could be heard in the Ukraine capitol of Kyiv.
Biden said in a speech tonight: “The prayers of the 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.”
