Ukraine has released an announcement about cutting down of diplomatic ties with Russia after President Vladimir Putin has authorized an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an announcement that the country would break diplomatic ties with Moscow in response to Russia’s invasion of its Western-backed neighbour.
It marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent nations after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.
President Zelenskyy, via a video message on Thursday, said, “We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia.”
He further said, “Ukraine is defending itself and will not going to give up its freedom, no matter what Moscow thinks. Russia vilely and suicidally attacked our state in the morning. Just like fascist Germany did during the second world war.”
Ukraine and Russia have maintained diplomatic ties throughout a complex history of relations that included two pro-Western revolutions in Kyiv in 2004 and 2014 that the Kremlin strongly opposed.
Zelenskyy decision came hours after Putin launched an all-out offensive that included an air assault and ground invasions along Ukraine’s northern and southern frontiers.
The attacks started after Putin said in a televised address that he had approved a “special military operation.”