NATO and EU leaders condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine early Thursday morning and threatened Moscow with consequences.

The North Atlantic Council, the Alliance's permanent decision-making body, plans to hold a special session at 8:30 a.m.

The Alliance will then discuss further reinforcements on its eastern flank, having moved troops over the past few days.

The heads of state and government of the European Union will then meet in Brussels at 8 p.m. in the evening for a special meeting.

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

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They are then expected to impose the "unprecedented" sanctions against Russia that have been in preparation for the past few weeks.

Their goal is to cut off Russia from the international financial market and to ban the export of high technology.

The Russian leadership and oligarchs who support President Vladimir Putin must also brace themselves for further sanctions.

This also applies to the regime in Belarus, from whose soil Russian tanks advanced across the border into Ukraine.

"A terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe"

US President Joe Biden announced a "joint and decisive response to the unjustified attack by the Russian military".

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring catastrophic human casualties and suffering," he said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of a "blatant breach of international law".

The Russian attack "cannot be justified by anything," he said in Berlin.

"This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe." Biden and Scholz called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express their solidarity.

In a statement, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke of a "reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine that is endangering countless civilian lives".

Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

"This is a serious breach of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security."

NATO members would discuss the consequences and "do everything possible to protect and defend all allies".

The Alliance was prepared for development.

On Wednesday evening, the US Department of Defense warned allies of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to this, eighty percent of the more than 160,000 troops that Russia had massed on the border with Ukraine were in attack positions and ready to strike at any moment.

Sanctions package against 351 Duma deputies, among others

"We condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine," wrote EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel in identical messages on Twitter.

"In these dark hours our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they suffer this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives." They added: "We will hold the Kremlin accountable."

EU Council President Charles Michel had already called the heads of state and government to a special council in Brussels this Thursday at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to decide on further steps towards Russia and support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for "immediate sanctions" against Moscow.

He also needs defense assistance and financial support, Selenskyj wrote on Twitter after phone calls with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others, on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the EU responded to Russia's recognition of the separatists in Donbass with an initial package of sanctions.

It bans entry and assets from 351 members of the Duma who had asked Putin to take the step.

It is also aimed at high-ranking officials of the Russian regime, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin's chief of staff Anton Vaino, Margarita Simonyan, head of RT propaganda channel, and Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry.

In addition, transactions with some banks and companies and all trading in Russian government bonds were banned.