the song statement a to, to help through these tries is now a president, zelinski is making clear via social media, for example, that the either of those people who are hearing those sirens a, she would stay at home and stay poor. but the ones really are capable to fight are of a fighting age should join these cause the cause he calls in, in the meaning of a free country, free ukraine. and of course is regularly posting all the support of verbal solidarity. but also the military equipment. and other a boast by international of forces, by nato allies that are supposed to arrive here in ukraine. he's trying to basically keep the other, the ukranian shop today, but also sure don't panic. i'm here. the government is functioning while at the same time warning people to stay at home, look for the close, the shelter, and once again that he or those sirens blaring again. all right, funny, thank you for bringing a fillet there from kia voice. speak to you down the road

a little bit. russian president putin launched this invasion in the early hours of thursday morning. so far we are. we have heard and reports the dozens of ukrainian soldiers have been killed. with a government bowing an all out defense of the country. tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing for safety. with dawn came the bombs rusher attacked sites across ukraine. the russian troops that had been amassing on the border for weeks started rolling in, recorded on surveillance cameras by ukraine's board of police rushes leda. vladimir putin announced the military operation in a broadcast on russian tv. he disparaged ukraine's democratically elected government and asked ukrainian soldiers to surrender.

ukraine's president followed amir savanski introduced martial law. and he made an emotional plea to russians. questions. i'm addressing you, the russian people as a ukrainian citizen, bullied, we are separated by border stretching more than 2000 kilometers. and right now there are 200000 of your soldiers. there are a couple of your leadership has authorized them to move into the territory of another country. and this could mark the start of the major war on the european continent and the peace come continued black smoke from a ukrainian military airport and truck. you have in the east of the country. russia confirms that they bombed the site. housing block with hit and distraught residents were left, grieving the 1st casualties in

a new war. they did not want as the world condemned russia's attack when its neighbor, the e. u commission president said all of europe is under threat over the russians. target is not only done by the target is not only ukraine, the target is the stability in europe and the whole of the international peace order. and we will hold president putin accountable for that. germany's chancellor laughed schultz promised more sanctions will be coordinating closely with our international partners in nato and in the european union today in order to place further severe sanctions against russia now. but clank, sions can't come soon enough for many ukrainians in the capital, keith calls jammed the roads as the residence tried to flee. the city

european union leaders are due to gather later today for an emergency summit to coordinate the blocks response to the russian invasion. here's what the commission president was a la fonder line had to say about sanctions that, that he was preparing to trigger. this package will include financial sanctions that harshly limit rush has access to the capital markets. these sanctions will have a heavy impact. rushed us economy has already faced intensive pressure in the recent weeks. and these precious will know accumulate these sanctions will suppress russia's economic growth. increase the boring costs, raise inflation, intensify capital outflow and gradually erode its industrial basis. the 2nd main pillar of our sanctions concerns limiting rush us excess to crucial technology . we want to cut off russia industry from the technologies desperately

needed today to build a future. our measures will recon rush us technology, technological position in key areas actually from which the elite makes most of their money. let's bring in our correspondent 1000000 us house in brussels, who's been following the european union's response for us. or, you know, maybe we can start with that somewhat unusual press conference that we saw a little bit earlier with the european commission president was a lot on the line who we just saw there also the european council president shaw michelle, and against the secretary general of nato, we heard a bit about the sanctions that europe is preparing at the mom, but, but what really stood out to you from that statement and from that meeting earlier . yes, him, you're right. it's not that usual the usual that the 3 of them gave a press conference together, but this the day, it clearly is not a usual day. it's a very extraordinary day. and the very said that that's at least for your team

leaders, said frontline, but also in stoughton berg. and they both spoke to media earlier. and basically we each right again what they said earlier and said that this is actually an attack. that is, is a relentless attack, reckless attack, something that is unprecedented. and that is the biggest attack, or the biggest war since the 2nd world war in europe. and they condemned this attack russia's attack on ukraine or on the sovereign states and said they want to help you wants to help your crane wants to provide your grain with humanitarian aids to make this a little bit easier. or, you know, if we talk about those sanctions that are on the table, we understand what they're intended to do. we heard from la funder line to really take a shot. right?

ad rushes economy. that's interesting at a technology as you said, but do we know what they will include? not exactly yet. i mean, this is the 2nd package of sanctions because the u has already or agreed and sanctions only yesterday before the new rush, i would actually move on with this attack on the entire country. a few came because they decided to did, they approved a package of sanctions after rush i recognized the to break away regions done yet. and lou hands a couple of days ago and the so they decided this is now the point where we have to take sanctions. but these sections they were taken yesterday were considered rather mild. and the target individuals, for example, they make it very difficult to trade between the 2 regular re regions and that you but what be no now is that the sanctions that will be discussed later today among

the leaders will be harsh sanctions. but what they include a specific ti, we'll have to wait and see a little bit. it will include the financial sector, it will target a technology. and what fund ally the commission president made very clear is that that you intends to, we can rush us economy and marina. maybe you can tell us a little bit about the unity in the european union at the moment. we heard richard speaking a little bit earlier about some discord on some types of sanctions. so how closely together do you member states stand right now in the response to russia? you know, as so me and we've been reporting about that you a lot from, from brussels and also and usually we say that you is not united on many issues of migration on climate change. but this time it, they actually showed a quite clear and unified response at 1st. for example, this 1st, this 1st package of sanctions was

a unanimously approved by all you leaders. but then of course, there difference interest to you. for example, we have the a states a have a border with russia, the baltic states of poland, for example. and of course, they are a lot more concerned about their security than, for example, italians or germans. so they are also more in favor of deploying military equipment or giving military equipment to ukraine, of which was not something germany wanted so far. or they also see russia a lot more critical than a, for example, parts of germany. so there is a bit of a, a bit of different views there, which is, it can be explained by a geographical and historical reasons. but for now, sanctions have been taken unanimously. and we'll have to see what kind of sanctions that you will agree on and how hard they will be if there will be really as harsh

as announced. categories. marina trav, there in brussels. thank you. the german chancellor, olaf schwartz has joined world leaders and condemning rushes invasion of ukraine. he promised solidarity with ukraine and tough sanctions for russia. as head of the g 7 this afternoon, i will be convening a meeting of the g 7 as a video conference looking for a clear coordinated response to the situation will be coordinating closely with our international partners in natal and in the european union today in order to place further severe sanctions against russia now, and it is good that we have prepared for this event you ality carefully. the aim of our sanctions is to make it clear to the russian leadership that they will pay a better price for this aggression. the german foreign minister and alina barbara

gave a statement earlier as well, in which she pledged to unleash a full package of sanctions on russia. here's what she said. this war is aimed at destroying the 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 than hoping president whom b nima. you will never destroy this dream. you know what, 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 that in the name of russia. with more and even there has been some scrupulous murder on their brothers and sisters in ukraine, even though 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 on my case, started efforts. and you know, right, you know, option will coordinate with every measure we take with the ukraine with, within the u. within nato, within the g 7 and the full package of sanctions will be ammunition on russia. we have our chief political correspondent, linda crane with us. now to talk about all of this, melinda, it's been developing so quickly. we just heard statements from the german foreign minister and from the german chancellor. we have heard certainly a message of unity from the west and we just heard analynn about there say we are shocked, but not helpless. we have prepared for this moment. how prepared is germany is its european allies, is the west in general to deliver this economic and political punishment that they promised. what we know is that for weeks they have been working, as you say,

with their nato partners with their you partners and with the united states to create a stage by stage plan for these sanctions. this is why after the recognition of the self proclaimed eastern, a self proclaimed breakaway republics in the eastern part of ukraine. the 1st package of sanctions was a limited, a targeted package, criticized by some people as being too little. but it's clear that they now plan to take a very significant step toward what left sholtes referred to as sanctions. that will exact a bitter toll that will create real pain for the russian economy. presumably for the russian president himself, he has been mentioned by name the now as a sanctions target as well. and of course we heard the you commission president ursula funder line saying this would also be a package that includes limits on the export of technology to russia. and russia's

very dependent on western technology. russia is an energy resource exporter, but it is not a highly industrialized economy. and it does require those export, those imports of technology that will now presumably been denied to it. but we'll know more about all of this later on. today, in fact of the chancellor said he will meeting with his e u partners in the e council meeting that has some that, that has been very precipitously called for this evening. and they will then presumably announce what this exact next package will be beyond that, germany at the moment is the head of the g 7 group of industrialized rich economies . it will also be meeting with them this afternoon and we'll then presumably discuss sanctions there as well. and what we also know is that nato has convened its defense council, meaning that nato is now looking at what it can do to shore up support for those

nato members who feel very, very vulnerable. and that, of course, 1st and foremost, includes the baltic republic swear. germany leads the battle group for nato in lithuania, with now a total of around $950.00 german soldiers on the ground there. so there will be more discussion about what needs to be done to ensure their security. a lot to talk about melinda. we're going to continue the talk in just a moment. i just want to bring people up to date who might just be joining us that here at the top of the hour we are part of our comprehensive coverage year of rushes full scale invasion of ukraine. the russian military are using airstrikes and artillery to attack targets across the country, including big cities of a capital key as well. ukraine says its army is fighting back civilians are trying to flee in some places. there are reports of casualties that are starting to come in. nato's chief is called this act, brutal act of war and has raised the alert level for the alliance and its forces.

and the e. u, as we just heard his vowing to impose.