Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Russia launched this morning full-scale military attack against Ukraine including the capital Kiev. The attack targeted many cities across the Country where Russia used heavy air and land attacks. NATO has not issued any positions so far.

Latest News:

• Russian forces have launched a major military assault on Ukraine, with reports of missile strikes and explosions in major cities
• Russian President Vladimir Putin warns that Moscow’s response will be “instant” if anyone tries to take on Russia
• He urges Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine to lay down weapons and return to their homes
• Ukraine’s foreign minister accuses Russia of starting a full-scale war and urges the UN “to do everything possible” to stop it
• US President Joe Biden vows that the world will hold Russia accountable, predicting a major loss of life
• Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says the bloc stands with Ukraine at this terrible time and will do all it takes to defend all allies
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said an invasion “could be the beginning of a big war on the European continent”
• German Foreign Ministry urges all citizens to leave Ukraine
• Ukraine asks Turkey to shut Black Sea waterways to Russian warships
• Belarusian forces not taking part in the invasion, Lukashenko claims
• Russian military convoy heading to Crimea
• Russian attack causes panic in Kyiv as people flee
• Ukrainian Su-27 fighter intercepted in Romania
• Lithuanian parliament to consider the state of emergency declaration
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on citizens to donate more blood to hospitals
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: we are fighting to defend our freedom and independence
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy : we broke our diplomatic relations with Russia
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy : we will issue weapons to everyone who wants them
• Finland is ready to receive refugees from Ukraine, PM says
• Ukrainian official says 40 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed so far
• Boris Johnson: This is a catastrophe for our continent
• Iranian Foreign Ministry: Ukraine crisis is the result of Nato’s provocations
• Drastic explosions were heard in Kiev
• OSCE says monitoring mission in Ukraine implementing contingency plans
• Moldova shuts down airspace due to Russian invasion in Ukraine
• Israeli Foreign Minister: We condemn Russian attack against Ukraine
• Mayor of Mariupol says three civilians killed
• NATO has no plans to send troops into Ukraine, Stoltenberg says
• Navalny condemns Ukraine invasion
• Russian regulator issues strict guidelines for reporting on eastern Ukraine
• Erdogan slams Russia’s attack as a ‘heavy blow’ to peace
• More military rockets appearing to be fired from Russian territory into Ukraine
• UN’s high commissioner for refugees urges countries to give fleeing Ukrainians safe haven
• Missile hits Ivano-Frankivsk airport amid Russian attack
• Ursula von der Leyen: It is our shared duty to stand up to the gravest act of aggression on European soil in decades
• Russian forces trying to penetrate Kyiv region, border officials say
• Ukraine’s Klitschko pleads for international assistance
• Russia can not be cut off behind an ‘iron curtain’, Kremlin spokesman says
• UEFA will not host this season’s Champions League final in St Petersburg after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, per Rob Harris
• WHO raises alarm over potential humanitarian catastrophe
• ‘Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939’, Kyiv says
• Russia anti-war activist , Marina Litvinovich, detained

President Putin has justified the offensive operation by claiming Ukraine is acquiring nuclear weapons. While Ukraine has never said that it is seeking nuclear weapons, Putin claimed the situation required immediate action in order to protect civilians in the newly Russian recognised provinces in east Ukraine. He also said he had to act quickly to prevent the junta from regaining control in Kyiv. In the meantime, the president of the United Nations called on all world leaders to condemn Russia’s actions and hold them accountable.

As for the future of the war in Ukraine, it is unclear whether Putin will send his forces to Kyiv and other capital cities. But if he does, it would probably be more effective to send troops directly to the capital, which is where most Ukrainian combat forces are located. The Kremlin’s move could effectively cut off Ukrainian ground troops without occupying the major cities. In addition, Russian troops could easily outflank Ukrainian troops and seize weapons and equipment.

The United States has expressed support for Ukraine.  President Biden, said that the world would hold Russia accountable for the actions taken in Ukraine. The attacks began Saturday with explosions in the city of Donetsk, which is Ukraine’s second largest city. The explosions were reported minutes after Russian President Vladimir V. Putin declared the beginning of a “special military operation” in the region. The U.S., however, has condemned the attacks and warned of further action.

The Russian military has been invading eastern Ukraine and claiming it is not occupying the country. While the country’s government says it does not intend to occupy its territory, military operations are occurring near a large region of separatists in the eastern Ukraine. Despite this, there is no indication that Russia will occupy the country. The only way to know for sure is to wait.

The Russian military has launched a major military assault on Ukraine. The country’s president declared martial law and said that “we will defend ourselves” if Russia invades our nation. A former US ambassador to the OSCE and NATO, Dan Baer has accused Russia of interfering with the country’s internal affairs. He noted that the war is a proxy war. A proxy army has the right to defend itself.

In the aftermath of the recent conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia has requested military support from Moscow in order to repel the Ukrainian aggression and avoid civilian casualties. A statement released by the Russian military ministry says that it is not conducting strikes against Ukrainian cities. Instead, it is destroying military infrastructure, air defense systems, and infrastructure in Ukraine. Meanwhile, European natural gas futures have jumped by 31 percent on Thursday morning.