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I-China Isho Okuhlukile Ngolwase Russia

Written by Mfundo on 25 February, 2022

By: Zilungile Mkhize

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his government had no choice but to invade Ukraine.

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine in a “full-scale” assault by land, sea and air – in one of the biggest assaults by one country on another in Europe since World War Two.

The escalation in the years-long conflict between the two countries has triggered the greatest security crisis in Europe, and has drawn in the United States.

In 2004, NATO declared its intention to offer membership to Ukraine which had left the organisation to join some day in the distant future — crossing a red line for Russia.

NATO, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 European countries and 2 North American countries.

Putin sees NATO’s expansion as a threat, and the prospect of Ukraine joining the Western military alliance a “hostile act” – a view he invoked in his televised speech yesterday saying that Ukraine’s aspiration to join the military alliance was a dire threat to Russia.

Speaking through an interpreter, Putin says they had to invade Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the European Union has announced another round of sanctions against Russia, targeting banks, energy, export, and technology.

The sanctions were presented to European leaders yesterday and were approved.

European Commission pPresident, Ursula von der Leyen, says one of the main sanctions is the targeting of 70-percent of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies, including in defence.

Meanwhile, China has refused to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine, instead repeating calls for both in conflict to exercise restraint, but has accused the United States of “fueling fire” in these tensions.