US President Joe Biden vowed to hold Russia accountable for its attack on Ukraine, and while German Chancellor Ola Schulz described what happened as a dark day for Europe, Western countries are moving to tighten sanctions on Moscow.

Biden said in a statement shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a military operation against Ukraine that the United States and its allies would respond to Moscow in a united and decisive manner.

Biden added that Putin chose a premeditated war that would lead to heavy loss of life and human suffering, and described the Russian military attack as unjustified.

The White House said the president was briefed by his top aides and was monitoring developments in Ukraine.

Today, Biden made a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and said that he briefed him on Washington's steps to mobilize international support against the Russian attack, and the US President promised that his country would continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and its people.

It is scheduled to discuss the crisis today, Thursday, with other leaders in the countries of the Group of Seven (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan).

Shortly after the Russian announcement of the start of military operations, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the Western powers are united in responding to Russia and strengthening the eastern front of NATO.

Blinken had said in an interview with CBS that if Russia continues to escalate and engages in a massive invasion of Ukraine, the United States will escalate as well.

At the same time, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Washington will continue to impose sanctions on Russia if it decides to continue its escalation against Ukraine.

Washington had already announced sanctions against Russia after it recognized the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

The emergency session of the UN Security Council was held at the request of Ukraine (French)

American draft resolution

Meanwhile, a US official announced that his country will present today, Thursday, a draft resolution at the United Nations condemning Russia, to be voted on on Friday.

"Putin sent a message of war in complete disregard of the responsibility of this council. This is a serious emergency. The council will have to take action and we will put a resolution on the table," said US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield.

Russia has the right of veto, and it is expected to drop with China any draft resolution of this kind.

The US move follows an emergency session of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine.

During the session, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield, said that the Russian attack on Ukraine is an attack on the United Nations and the Security Council.

The delegates of Britain, France, Germany and other delegates condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine, and demanded that Moscow be held responsible, while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called during the Security Council session to stop the conflict now.

For his part, the Ukrainian delegate said that it was too late to talk about de-escalation because the Russian president had already declared war.

On the other hand, the Russian ambassador said that his country did not start an aggression against the Ukrainian people, but rather against what he described as the ruling junta in Kiev.

As for the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, he said he believed that the door to a diplomatic solution to the crisis had not been completely closed.


condemnation of the Russian attack

In international positions on developments in Ukraine, the European Union's High Commissioner for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell strongly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine, and pledged to hold Russia accountable for what he described as the unprovoked attack on its neighbor.

In turn, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen blamed the Kremlin for the ongoing war, and declared the EU's solidarity with Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the European Union imposed sanctions on Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other military leaders as part of a package of measures in response to Moscow's recognition of the independence of two Ukrainian separatist regions.

The sanctions imposed on the 27-nation bloc included asset freezes and visa bans for high-ranking figures, including commanders of the Russian Land Army, Navy and Air Force, the Kremlin's chief of staff, the director of the state-run RT TV channel and a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry.

For his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will do everything in its power to protect and defend all allies.

Stoltenberg added that the members of the alliance will meet to discuss dealing with the consequences of what he described as aggressive actions by Russia.

It is expected that the ambassadors of NATO countries will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the Russian attack.

In the context, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Russian President Vladimir Putin chose the path of bloodshed and destruction by launching what he described as an unprovoked attack on Ukraine, while German Chancellor Olaf Schulz described the Russian attack as a flagrant violation of international law, and a black day for Europe, calling on Moscow to Immediately stop its military action.

In turn, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Russia's actions will be met with serious consequences, adding that Ottawa will take additional measures to stop what he described as Russia's unjustified aggression.