The Russian President declares war .. and calls on Ukraine to "lay down arms", warning against "foreign interference"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he had made the decision to conduct a military operation in Donbass, Ukraine.

He added that the circumstances required decisive action from Russia.

A Russian news agency quoted Putin as saying that the confrontations between Russian and Ukrainian forces were only a matter of time.

"Russia cannot accept threats from Ukraine," the Russian president added, calling on Ukraine to "put down arms."

Putin indicated that his country does not plan to occupy Ukraine, warning that "in the event of foreign intervention, we will respond immediately."

And he warned that "the authorities of Ukraine will be held responsible for any bloodshed."

The Russian president added that Russia's actions are for self-defense from threats and bigger problems than those that exist today.

Putin addressed the Ukrainian military, saying: "Your fathers and grandfathers did not fight, so you may help the 'neo-Nazis'."

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told NBC News last night that he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night was over, but he still saw an opportunity to "avoid major aggression."

"It seems that everything is ready for Russia to embark on a major aggression against Ukraine," Blinken told the network in an interview, adding that he could not specify the exact time or place.

Meanwhile, Russia has partially closed the airspace in the Rostov FIR to the east of its border with Ukraine "in order to provide safety" for civil flights.

It came in a notice to pilots that listed certain parts of the airspace and altitudes as being avoided.

This coincided with the closure of airports in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia in Ukraine to air traffic until Thursday morning, according to notices to pilots issued by local authorities.

The authorities did not explain any reason for the closure, which is scheduled to end between 0500 and 0635 GMT, according to the airport.

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Wednesday that Russia has amassed "about 200,000 soldiers" on his country's borders, with the increasing possibility of a military conflict between the two countries.

"About 200,000 soldiers and thousands of combat vehicles are stationed" on Ukraine's borders, Zelensky said in a letter to the nation.

A senior US defense official has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has put 80 percent of the troops he mustered in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Putin is ready with all his capabilities," the official told reporters, on condition of anonymity.

A private American company had said that satellite images taken on Wednesday showed a number of new deployments in western Russia, many of them only about 15 km from the border with Ukraine and less than about 75 km from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

The pictures showed a field deployment, military and artillery convoys, and armored personnel carriers with support equipment and forces.

Meanwhile, a Reuters witness said that at least five explosions were heard in the separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine early Thursday morning.

Following the explosions, four military trucks were seen heading to the scene of the explosion.

The Kremlin had announced hours ago that the two separatist regions in Ukraine had requested Russian assistance to repel the "aggression" of the Ukrainian army.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news