today, soleski made clear what he believes is and not just a military operation as a russian president vladimir putin announced early this morning. but he says he expects, basically, the russia wants to destroy ukraine. now these are, of course, a very strong words. and people here are hoping on the ground that he's not going to go as far as, as far as a full scale, full fledged invasion of the entire country. ukraine's president zalinski wants to maintain a self confidence, in fact, the spokesperson of his presidency, also made clear. there is no panic in the presidency. speaking to people on the ground, they wonder when somebody says there is no panic. whether that actually means there's going to be panic. but overall, what ukraine tries to maintain, as they did also over the course of the past days, as the escalation started to, and to a new level, to maintain that this is a democratic independent sovereign country. and they're not going to give up on any

land. they will not have any foreign entity to take over here and a rule this country. now they are not so far yet, but there is of course, concern here on the ground, especially because so many things have happened over the course of the past couple of days. that way highly unlikely that at this point, everything is likely for you. thank you very much for your reporting. the story itself is moving so fast. let's have a listen in now to what the ukrainian president has been saying. celine from a general grain. she'll do ukrainian. this morning, president putin announced a special military operation in the dawn bus. russia carried out strikes on our military infrastructure on our border guns. explosions were heard in many cities in ukraine. we are introducing martial law throughout the state. i have had a conversation with president lightness rob the u. s. is gathering, is national support by them. solutions for them. i think it was able to live in is

not will not be today. we need each of you would meet each of you to be calm. if possible, stay at home please. we are working, the army is working. the entire security and defense sector of ukraine is working in. i, the national security and defense council. the government will be in touch. soon i will be in touch again. at a little don't panic. i mean, we are strong. we are ready for everything and we will defeat any one, because we are ukraine glory to ukraine. me. she but it was only so green, slow grain ukrainian president trying to keep the tom there. a funny back to you and tell us more about the developments happening there in the mood there in the capital supermarkets are being closed. in fact, everything that is normally considered essential is closed except gasoline stations that clearly indicates for you that more unfortunately may come. and those people

who decided to leave today, they do not want to just wait here and see what else to come. they really want to flee towards the west. neighboring countries like slovakia, poland are expecting an influx of refugees actually from ukraine. really, as i'm saying, they all of this, even me. i didn't think just the week ago. it's going to happen these fast. it's here in the capital city, if people are going to have to make this decision about to stay or leave. now you have to know that the board of the ballad ross is just those 200 kilometers from here. ukraine said that the explosions, in fact, those of you have heard this morning that was initiated from bella. ruth, for dollar rou, said he never participated in any military support with regard or assault and support russian troops. this is the problem at this point. a lot of things are in terms of who were things originate from what we can see, of course,

at the aggression from russian troops is going beyond the region of don't boss i way beyond whether the board of the bus and the question really is just whole find whole intense the what's being called an invasion is going to continue and what that will trigger in terms of ukrainians panicking, and what that panic actually means for security here on the ground. what it sounds like there is the development of information more the sewing of mistrust and confusion. thank you very much for your report again from german foreign minister, alina per box, gave a statement earlier in which she pledged to unleash a full package of sanctions on russia. is what she had to say. even if you're going to leave him at burger, hello sir, i'm to find ourselves today in a complete uniform world. after months of preparation with lies and propaganda,

president putin decided to night to make his threat come through with his military attack on ukraine. the russian government is breaking with the most elementary rules of international order in the face of the world. russia has selected this pass unilaterally. for the last few weeks and months, we have tried everything we could to find a diplomatic peaceful solution for this crisis. line. one for faith under russia has not responded to any of the offers we have made ukrainians, have done nothing to deserve their spilling of blood fire. this war is aimed at destroying in one thing for sure. the hopes of people ukraine, that after decades of lack of freedom that they would have a right to democracy at peace and a better future without oppression. with president putin, b nima,

you will never destroy this dream evix, you know, cut, you know, it is growing in ukraine and it is growing in your own country. it is my firm conviction that in russia as well, many people will be deeply embarrassed about this. will be outraged and that in the name of russia, with more and even there has been stun group a list, murder on their brothers and sisters in ukraine, even it wouldn't even be program fellow isn't it isn't compatriots. we are all shocked this morning, but we are not helpless before, but we have prepared for these events and we'll work together with our partners and allies. that my case started effort and i will coordinate with every measure we take with ukraine within the u. within nato. within the g 7 and the full package of sanctions will be ammunition on russia, hyde and our security. and our allies will a high degree strengthens,

but it's not just about you up to day. and no country in the world can accept that the serenity of others essentially are correct or not something that can just being taken over by a stronger neighbor, the diplomatic effort in the world you via and you can't, i mean that we are going to work with our allies saying that we will do everything we can to stop this aggression or to the un charter as well. compatriots in ukraine, you know, please leave ukraine immediately if you find yourself in ukraine and let some target for reasons of your own security. we have called for any german citizens and ukraine to leave in recent days before. and if you cannot leave safely, please. yeah, my name hunker down in a safe place. we have a crisis hotline for the family members of the germans,

030-5003. 1000 is the number for family members to find out about what is their relatives in ukraine. we cannot win their live people out somewhere else. but right, we have embassies in mcdavia and it was on over pearson architect republic as well, to support you. and we have prepared for this eventuality for a long time online for please register in the crisis list of the german foreign ministry. if you have already left ukraine, please remember to remove your name from this list. please follow local and international media and listen to local announcements as well. just yesterday evening, i decided that the personnel that has been, i to keep it to our embassy, should be evacuated. depending on the situation, we will decide whether or not we will be able to have other embassies covered,

the work of our embassy with compatriots. this war on our doorstep will have consequences for us here in germany as well. the sanctions and russia, increasing prices and dropping share prices on stock markets will affect germany to out. we never chose this violence situation often, but we also don't want to avoid it. sort of the european piece structure of the recent decades is the foundation for living peacefully and in prosperity here. if we do not take clear stance on this, we will pay an even higher price in the future. thank you very much. a correspond nick connelly is in the eastern town of soc notion of ukraine, 2nd biggest city hockey nic. what's happening, where you are bring us up to date? well, definitely looks people about trying to head away people that money and being fun

fuel trying to head away from this russian invasion. people still fairly calm and in their long queues for fuel stations and banks. and i hadn't heard people regular voices or trying to push i think, but the for couple of hours and they couldn't really believe their eyes. we couldn't believe the speech by heard from the patrol and then the attacks on the print shop basically tried to make it back. trying to get caught on nick. we've heard that time and again, over the past days, here in germany, disbelief that this would be an individual ality that this could even happen. and i've heard a time it again from friends and relatives of mine in ukraine. tell us how,

how surprised would you as a correspondent who's been covering ukraine for so many years now? watching the science watching what's been happening on the borders and reporting for us from key evan, now from the east, where so much has been developing of the past days. no one has a crystal ball. the collection did feel different from stop. and i just talked to in the spring last year, russia already built up and he can, but it may be 100000 troops on the borders back. and that just did seem to be magic blossom did. and soon as he got some of this time, the beginning check the saying what the tank structure needed even love to be able to kind of infrastructure on the ground election campaign. what the rhetoric was a lot more on most of the that

failing to basically focus on the pressure and give a call to give kind of confessions that i think because they've been gone back to be prepared to take people coming back from the front lot in fact, she's everyone in the south back see this is really everywhere. we've been in the west of the country that poland reports all the tax on neutral structure close to that goal that we think that's what we were hearing before that the country is being attacked from 3 sides. they're sudden port cities of a dancer and muddy opal, as well as from a toss and her heath in the east, which is where you are, the pro in central ukraine, also the capital key. can you tell us more about what sort of operation is underway?

it's pretty difficult to st too much sense to because partly it's question of communications bad internet and phone communications. you can't, military doesn't want to real too much about what it's actually doing because circulating on social media exposure. kevin self, much of sorta give verified to be on the. busy other thing we have from the ukrainian government that they worry that connection and funny, just have a claim on the loss. verify what happened. but yes, we do get very boring situation that makes very hard to try work out where to go, where they're going to be. because because of trips and boys will be out here to

pretty close chips for that number, which we believe they might be. then that'll. ready make one more quick question. you've spoken to so many people there on the ground and soldiers who've been preparing for this moment. how prepared would you say the ukrainian soldiers are well, they have been fighting those versus purchase in best for 8 years. but obviously, russia, they, we don't get that those 1st step is we're basically the same as russia that they were fighting with russia. weapons often had western instructors, the russian offices come on to them that would be on the off against what sources. a whole different story. and russia has huge, superior equipment and possible in terms of what the systems on the church and what people tell you that they know the ground, that they have

a much better motivation. they're protecting their innovative country and that they will fight, call the longer than russian culture frontier to crane on. it's not very clear present why, why they need to be exempt from the government that they have to help the population population. and they'd be much options that people call and bring those up and they can go ahead and economy really thank you very much for your reporting. it's great to get your insights there on the ground in a close to how he's there in the east of the country in the village of technology. and i think you and we're waiting this out for a press briefing from nato, from the nato secretary general in stoughton book, that should be coming to you any minute. now, reminder 1st though, of the news, russia has invaded ukraine. president vladimir putin has ordered an all out,

aaron ground assault on its neighbor. the russian military is targeting installations across the country. officials say most of it was attacking from 3 sides north, east and south. c. c t. v footage has recorded russian military personnel moving across the border from crimea. you can says it's armies fight back. civilians are trying to flee in some places as reports of casualties start to come in with the nations are expressing outrage of the offensive and say moscow will pay a heavy price. and i'm here with the w's chief international editor, richard walker. richard, talk us through what we know this out yet, what we've just been hearing for from nick in east ukraine. there is a dramatic invasion taking place of all of the scenarios that we've been talking about here on t w. news. the world has really been kind of fixated about what's going on between russia and ukraine in recent weeks were really at the maximal end of the scenarios

that have been discussed. which is, i think watching all of sholtes just earlier. you could, you could really get a sense of the gravity of the situation and the almost a sense of shock i think, from, from, from many western leaders also the, the sexy general of the united nations. also expressing that, you know, he hope this day would not come, but, but a sense of shock that vladimir putin, the leader of an advanced superpower, is invading a large neighbour with, obviously very little concern for the consequences. whether the people who will lose their lives in this, but also the, the, the geopolitical after effects which, which will take a long time to unfold. and we're waiting now to hear from this actually general of nato because of the all has a very much or so on. how is the west going to respond to this now? so you can stop by, we're expecting him to speak soon. i'm just looking at the,

the, the agencies here just have a little bit of what we can expect that nato, according to reuters here, has a decided on further measures to strengthen deterrence in, in what they call eastern flank countries. so countries which are right up against russia. so the baltic states, for instance, will so eastern countries such as potent romania, which, which really feel vulnerable to what's going on here, that they will, it's a no specific step, but we'll see what you install some bugs that. but saying that these measures are preventative. that they are proportionate and that they are not escalade tree. and that's an important word that you will need to focus on quite a bit in the days ahead. we've seen dramatic escalation here over the course of a couple of days in terms of what russia is prepared to do. the west will be

looking at responses that they see is proportionate, but they don't want to invite putin in any way to escalate in his response. to them, for instance, what we were just talking about earlier, whether he might respond to sanctions, for example, with cyber attacks. so certainly a sense of the sort of precariousness of the situation there. but nature clearly realizing they have to take action here to provide reassurances to their member states in, in the region as we wait for that press briefing from nato. what's your analysis of the situation? as far as nato goes? you were talking about the clause that allows nato countries to support each other . yeah. what happens to ukraine with ukraine is ukraine simply left out because of that close? does that exclude ukraine? because ukraine is in a very difficult position here in that it wanted to join nato, but that it isn't that far? is it? yeah, yeah, we're talking about our school 5 so. so the,

the part of the founding documents nature, which mean that an attack on one member state is treated as an attacker on all. and all states then respond accordingly. that doesn't apply to ukraine because ukraine is not a member. and, and this is why it wanted to join. of course it wanted to have that protection for like i'd have to leave it there richard because his insult beck is now a beginning, his press briefing. leslie from him. good afternoon. russia has attacked ukraine. this is a brutal act, a war or with false, or with the brave people of ukraine. we have warned, against 4 months has come to pass. despite all calls on russia to change course on tireless efforts to seek a diplomatic solution. piece on our continent has been shattered. we now

how war in europe on a scale and over and over typed with thought belonged to history. we'll just finished meeting the north atlantic council to discuss the situation. the council also addressed the request by bulgaria, the checked republic, estonia locked the r, little ania, poland, remain young, and swatca to hold urgent consultations under article for all the washington treat thing. this is a grave moment for the security of a europe rush, us unjustified. an unprovoked attack on ukraine's on ukraine is putting compass innocent lives at risk with air and me saw attacks growing forces on special forces from multiple directions targeting military infrastructure and major

urban centers. this is a deliberate, cold blooded, and long planned invasion. despite its litany of lies denials on this information, the criminal intentions are cleared for the world to see russia's leaders bear full responsibility for their reckless actions on the lives lost. nay, donnas, from them russia's invasion of ukraine in the strongest possible terms. it is a blatant violation of international law, an act of aggression against a sovereign, independent and peaceful country. and the serious threats to you'd, atlantic security we call on our shawl to immediately it sees it's

submitted to action, redraw its forces from ukraine, and choose diplomacy. we fully supports ukraine's sovereignty until the authorial integrity and ukraine's right to self defense. russia is using force to try to rewrite history and then my ukraine. it's free and independent off natal score task is to protect and defend all allies. there must been no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding. an attack on wong will be regarded as an attack on all. this is our collective security guarantee. to day the north atlantic council decided to activate our the fence fans at the request or top military

commander general, told walters. this is a prudent on defensive step to protect and shield allan nations during this crisis . and it will enable us to deploy capabilities on forces, including the nato response force to wear them are needed in response to rush us massive military buildup, we have all the strength from our collected the fence on land at sea and in the air . in the last weeks, allies from north america and europe have deployed thousands or more troops to the east and part of the lines. and placed more on standby. we have over hung the jets at high lurch, protecting our air space. i'm more than a 120 allowed ships at sea from the high north to the mediterranean. all this

shows that are collected the fence commitment. article 5 is item count. we will continue to do whatever is necessary to shield alliance from aggression. i have a called a virtual summit of natalee. there's to morrow to address the way forward. russia is now facing severe costs and consequences imposed by the whole and national community. the communists aim is to re establish its there of influence. repub the global rules that have kept those all safe for decades and subvert the values that we hold dear. this is the new normal for our security piece cannot be taken for granted. freedom and democracy are contested by alteration gm's.

as a t g, competition is on the rise, we must respond within you'd resolve an even stronger unity, north america and europe to get there in natal we on alliance of 30 democracy's standing as one. we will protect our people on our values. democracy will always prevail over a foxy freedom will always prevail over oppression. and then i'm ready to take your questions. we'll go to into facts ukraine. thank you. this engine, fox craner, even a summer secretary general. we all know that may don't, will not fight for ukraine,

but don't you think it's time for me to to build empty heat lyrically and to put in the coalition. thank you. natal, stan. since, although the, with the crane on the ne dollars or impulse thing or impulsive, severe costs are on the russia for directors. so invasion of ukraine and nato allies. singles, coronation with european union, another, a partners all the world are now imposing severe economic sanctions on the ocean. a 2. 0. demonstrate that the we a follow up on law to said under the starter, it will be a high price for rochelle to pay our nato allies are also very long period of time provided support, practical support to military support to, to ukraine and help them to build a much stronger, much better equipped,

much better trained armed force today than there you can have been 2014 under. i would like to recognize the the ripped it professionally, some on the bravery all day ukrainian or men and women in uniform when i was standing up against the russian invasion. so we continued to stand together um, condemning the russian, a full scale invasion of ukraine and the allies. so i stand together also in sending a message that the are we will never accept the brutal violation over in the national or that we see taking place or as rochelle now invades ukraine, will go. she remembered and do you have any information that shows that nat nato allies face a direct threat from, from russia at the moment, and would nato reconsider military invent intervention in ukraine?

thank you. nate, lose the strongest lions history on make no mistake. we will defend them, protect every alloy against any attack and every in shall natal territory. and that's the reason also we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the alliance with fossil, some more troops, sheep, some plains, or the last 2 weeks. 2, to send the video fair messages on the tack on the wall, i will trigger responsible the whole alliance. and we do so not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent the conflict. what reduce the offensive? it's prudent, it's measured, but it is necessary because we see the aggressive actions of russia against that ukraine. on. therefore, a allah is also how to make sure that there is no room for any misunderstanding about the address. i can do anything. no thought against that. nate landlord's

a country national public radio. i thank you terry hall with n p r and d w. mister secretary general in the, in the next statement, and you say that we're deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the alliance, additional maritime assets and increase the readiness of, of forces. is this now to day more forces being sent as a result of the fact that the invasion has now happened? or are you there referring to what has already been done as, as reinforcements? i understand sec, we're will now have the ability to assemble the v g v j t f without coming back to the knack for approval. and finally, are you still willing to sit down with president putin or other representatives of the russian government after this? or are you suspending your offer to hold talks on other issues and the nato russia council? thank you. this invasion doesn't come as a surprise. we are warned against it for months.