Ukraine has cut all diplomatic ties with Russia after President Vladimir Putin authorised an all-out invasion of Ukraine.The invasion was carried out by land, air and sea.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the country would break diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to Russia’s invasion of its Western-backed neighbour, Al Jazeera reports.
It marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent countries after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.
“We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia,” Zelenskyy said in a video message on Thursday.
“Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom, no matter what Moscow thinks. Russia vilely and suicidally attacked our state in the morning. Just like fascist Germany did during the second world war.”
Ukraine and Russia maintained ties throughout a complex history of relations that included two pro-Western revolutions in Kyiv in 2004 and 2014 that the Kremlin strongly opposed.
Zelenskyy’s decision came hours after Putin launched an all-out offensive that included an air assault and ground invasions along Ukraine’s northern and southern frontiers.
The attacks began after Putin said in a televised address that he had approved a “special military operation”.
The move came after Moscow earlier recognised rebel-held territories in Luhansk and Donetsk and said they had asked for its “help”.
