Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion despite tougher sanctions imposed by the international community and widespread condemnation, including from leaders of NATO’s North Atlantic Council, the United Nations and the G7.
Zelensky on Thursday compared Russia’s actions to those of the Soviet Union, describing the invasion as the “sound of the new iron curtain falling and shutting Russia off from the civilized world.”
He also asked world leaders for “powerful assistance” to fight Russia on multiple fronts, saying that if they don’t, “tomorrow war will be knocking at your door.”
To that end, President Joe Biden said he was sending additional troops to Germany to reinforce NATO members against Russian aggression, although he made it clear that US forces wouldn’t be on the front line of the conflict. Instead, he announced new sanctions, including freezing the assets of four major Russian banks, controlling exports and punishing other oligarchs and their families.
“This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe and freedom in the world,” he said.