US, NATO, UN respond to Russian operation in Donbass

 

The international community has condemned Moscow after the Russian president announced a special operation in newly-recognized Donbass

United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine, Feb. 23, 2022 © AP / UNTV

Representatives of the United States, NATO, the UN, as well as several western states have decried Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" in the Donbass region.

After President Putin responded to military assistance requests from the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People's Republics in the Donbass by launching a "special military operation" in the region early on Thursday, US President Joe Biden said he would hold Russia “responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.”

"The United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," President Biden said in a statement, adding that he would be "praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Moscow's "reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine" and accused Russia of risking "countless civilian lives."

"Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country," Stoltenberg claimed, calling Putin's special military operation "a grave breach of international law" and "a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security."

Stoltenberg concluded by calling on Moscow to "cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Putin to stop Russian "troops from attacking Ukraine" and said, "Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died."

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Moscow also received heat from France, with French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Riviere, declaring, "Russia has chosen war. France condemns in the strongest possible terms the initiation of these operations."

In his address on Thursday, Putin claimed that the operation was needed to “protect” the people of Donetsk and Lugansk republics, arguing that had been subjected to “genocide by the Kiev regime” for the past eight years.

https://www.rt.com/russia/550420-us-nato-un-russia-donbass/