https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60503037
Ukraine conflict: Russian forces invade after Putin TV declaration
Russian forces have launched a military assault on neighbouring Ukraine, crossing its borders and bombing military targets near big cities.
In a pre-dawn TV statement Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine and demanded that its military lay down their arms.
Moments later, attacks were reported on Ukrainian military targets.
Ukraine said that "Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine".
Russia's military breached the border in a number of places, in the north, south and east, including from Belarus, a long-time Russian ally. There are reports of fighting in some parts of eastern Ukraine.
About 10 civilians are believed to have been killed, including six in an air strike in Brovary near the capital Kyiv. A man was also killed in shelling outside the major eastern city of Kharkiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced martial law across all of Ukraine, severed all diplomatic relations with Russia and said weapons would be distributed to anyone who wanted them.
Warning sirens blared across the capital, which has a population of almost three million. Traffic queued to leave the city and crowds sought shelter in Kyiv's metro stations. Several neighbouring countries have begun preparations to take in a large number of refugees.
What Russia has targeted
Russia first launched strikes on Ukraine's military infrastructure and border guard units, according to Mr Zelensky. Then Ukrainian forces said Russian military vehicles had crossed the border near Kharkiv in the north, Luhansk in the east, Russian-annexed Crimea in the south and from Belarus too. Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko said his country's military were not involved but could be if needed.
Russian tanks were later seen on the outskirts of Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million people. Russian forces also reportedly landed by sea at Ukraine's major port cities of Odesa on the Black Sea and Mariupol on the internal Sea of Azov.
Ukraine's army said Kyiv's Boryspil international airport was among a number of airfields that had been bombed, along with military headquarters and warehouses in the big cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mariupol.
Footage verified by the BBC showed missiles slamming into an airport in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
@metal-brain said‘Positive’ definitely one of the more subjectively vague words in the English language.
Russia Says Military Will Reduce Operations Around Kiev & Chernihiv After Positive Ceasefire Talks
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-signals-intent-cut-military-operations-around-kiev-chernihiv-after-positive
@kevcvs57 saidAhead of the talks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was prepared to declare its neutrality. Moscow has demanded that the country drop any hope of joining the NATO alliance, which it sees as a threat. Zelenskyy also said he was open to compromise over the contested eastern region of Donbas — comments that might lend momentum to negotiations.
‘Positive’ definitely one of the more subjectively vague words in the English language.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/round-talks-aims-stop-fighting-040330623.html
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@metal-brain saidWhy hasn’t Putin stopped shelling and bombing Ukraines women and children then? Why isn’t he sitting around the table with Zelensky
Ahead of the talks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was prepared to declare its neutrality. Moscow has demanded that the country drop any hope of joining the NATO alliance, which it sees as a threat. Zelenskyy also said he was open to compromise over the contested eastern region of Donbas — comments that might lend momentum to negotiations.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/round-talks-aims-stop-fighting-040330623.html
Zelensky is constantly telling the world he has accepted that non nato definition of neutrality and is ready to agree to it.
I’d guess it’s because the NATO issue has been a red herring from day one and Putin has a lot more totally unacceptable demands on his unseen list.
@kevcvs57 saidHow do you know Putin is shelling and bombing Ukraines women and children? What incentive does he have to do that?
Why hasn’t Putin stopped shelling and bombing Ukraines women and children then? Why isn’t he sitting around the table with Zelensky
Zelensky is constantly telling the world he has accepted that non nato definition of neutrality and is ready to agree to it.
I’d guess it’s because the NATO issue has been a red herring from day one and Putin has a lot more totally unacceptable demands on his unseen list.
Were the women and children carrying automatic rifles? You are being fed propaganda meant to demonize the enemy. Do they eat babies too?
@metal-brain saidHe bombed a maternity hospital.
How do you know Putin is shelling and bombing Ukraines women and children?