Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeals to for united front from world repel Russian invasion
For weeks Russia has amassed nearly 100,000 troops on the borders of Ukraine with an imminent military invasion. Early yesterday afternoon, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine using staging points in Belarus, Crimea and directly from the border that joins the former member of the USSR.
Many say Russia’s invasion is the precursor to World War 3 as many countries in the NATO alliance will come to the aid of Ukraine. Although Ukraine is not an official member of NATO, it is widely expected after the Russian invasion that will all change.
Russian President Putin indicated the invasion was in response to former USSR breakaways joining NATO and effectively surrounding his country. The G7 countries are calling Russia’s entrance into Ukraine an act of war on a sovereign nation, however, Putin sees it differently. “Russia is on a peacekeeping mission to support the newly recognized territories in Ukraine as independent nations with Russian citizens requiring protection.” Said Russian President Putin
With the launch of a military operation against Ukraine by Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an urgent meeting with the leadership of the government, representatives of the defense sector and the economic bloc.
Up-to-date information was heard on the current security situation in Ukraine and on its borders, as well as on the measures taken by the security and defense forces to repel the Russian armed forces. President Zelenskyy spoke about negotiations with world leaders to form an international coalition to end Russian aggression.
The invasion compelled President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign Decree № 64/2022 “On the imposition of martial law in Ukraine”. People’s deputies approved the document by 300 votes. The Decree reads in full:
Marshal Law Decree: According to the decree, martial law is imposed from 5:30 am February 24, 2022 for a period of 30 days. This decision was made due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, on the basis of the proposal of the National Security and Defense Council and in accordance with Ukrainian law.
The Military Command, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, other executive bodies and local self-government bodies, must ensure the measures and powers envisaged by the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Regime of the Martial Law” necessary to ensure Ukraine’s defense, public safety and state interests.
Due to the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the constitutional rights and freedoms of man and citizen provided for in Articles 30-34, 38, 39, 41-44, 53 of the Constitution of Ukraine may be temporarily restricted, temporary restrictions on the rights and legitimate interests of legal entities will also be imposed.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must immediately put into effect a plan to implement and ensure measures of the legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, and provide appropriate funding.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine together with local state administrations and other state bodies, institutions, enterprises, organizations of all forms of ownership are instructed to immediately bring a single state civil protection system, its functional and territorial subsystems ready for the fulfillment of tasks in a special period.
Also, regional, Kyiv city state administrations and local self-government bodies must establish defense councils and provide assistance to the military command in introducing and implementing measures of the martial law regime.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine must ensure that the UN Secretary-General and foreign officials are duly informed about the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms, which is a deviation from the obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the extent of these deviations and the reasons for such a decision.
