The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Kuleba on Thursday, February 24, appealed to the partner countries with a call to break off diplomatic relations with Moscow following Kiev.
“Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia. I encourage all of our partners to do the same. With this concrete step, you will demonstrate that you support Ukraine and categorically reject the most egregious act of aggression in Europe since World War II,” Kuleba wrote on his Twitter account.
Earlier Thursday, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was cutting off diplomatic relations with Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry responded by saying that Kiev’s decision to break off diplomatic relations with Moscow is the logical conclusion of its Russophobic policy. The official representative of the department, Maria Zakharova, also indicated that the events around Ukraine are an attempt to prevent a global war.
On the morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his special televised address, announced that a special operation would be carried out in the Donbass to protect the civilian population.
On the same day, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, specified that the special operation had two goals – the demilitarization and denatification of Ukraine. According to him, both of these aspects pose a threat to the Russian state and people.
On February 21, the Russian leader signed decrees recognizing the independence of the LNR and the DNR. Also, the President of the Russian Federation and the heads of both republics Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. The documents were ratified the next day by both the republics themselves and the Russian State Duma.
Since 2014, the Kiev authorities have been conducting a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the conflict.
The situation on the line of contact in Donbass escalated on February 17. In the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, heavy shelling by Ukrainian security forces was reported, including from heavy weapons. The republics announced a general mobilization and evacuation of civilians to the territory of Russia.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
