By Agnes Szucs
BRUSSELS (AA) – EU leaders condemned on Thursday Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified military actions” against Ukraine ahead of their extraordinary meeting starting later in the day.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine,” the members of the European Council said in a joint statement, which also deplored Belarus for its alleged involvement.
In the meeting they will discuss the security situation and further “restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action” in coordination with international partners, the statement said.
The EU heads of state and government called Russian military actions “unprovoked and unjustified” that “grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability.”
They urged Russia to immediately stop military actions and to “unconditionally withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.”
“Such use of force and coercion has no place in the 21st century,” they asserted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin green-lighted the long-feared military intervention in Ukraine, marking a fresh escalation that has drawn condemnations from around the world.
The Russian intervention came just days after it recognized two separatist-held enclaves, Donetsk and Lugansk, in eastern Ukraine.