Russian troops invade Ukraine

Russian troops invaded Ukraine Wednesday in a move predicted by the United States and its allies for months, creating what could be the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

President Joe Biden issued a release Wednesday decrying the invasion and promising action, which he and U.S. allies will impose on Russia for its actions. He also promised a united response to deter any aggression against U.S. allies in North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” Biden said in his statemnt. “President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.”

Putin made a speech Wednesday announcing the invasion, after denying for weeks that it would send troops into Ukraine.

In his speech, Putin said the attack was being done to protect Russia and Russian citizens in eastern Ukraine, an area he says historically was part of Russia.

“You and I have simply not been given any other opportunity to protect Russia and our people, except the one we will have to us today,” he said. “Circumstances require us to act resolutely and immediately.”

Russia has been falsely claiming for weeks that the separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine backed by Russia have been under attack — Ukrainian officials said the reports are falsified and that separatists even have shelled their own territory and blamed Ukraine in a propaganda campaign — and that Ukrainian and NATO actions are a threat to Russia.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine never be admitted to NATO, a goal of the nation essentially since the breakup of the Soviet Union of which it was a part.

Montana’s U.S. senators were quick to respond to the invasion.

“Vladimir Putin single-handedly started an unprovoked war that makes the world less safe,” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chair the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said in a statement the Havre Daily received this morning. “I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and with every freedom-loving democracy in condemning Russia’s illegal military actions. The United States will continue to support the security and stability of our NATO and European allies in the face of these acts of war.”

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., made a political statement in a release he issued that Havre Daily received this morning.

“I’m praying for the people of Ukraine and condemn Putin’s outrageous attack on their sovereignty and independence. Putin is a thug, and he has been empowered and emboldened by Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and his approval of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline while killing America’s Keystone XL pipeline,” Daines said. “ …. I do not support sending American troops to Ukraine.”

Biden has repeatedly said he would not send U.S. troops to Ukraine if Russia invaded, but would use sanctions and diplomatic actions.