World leaders swiftly condemned Russia's military attack on Ukraine, with Western capitals vowing to escalate sanctions against Moscow while the head of the United Nations demanded the conflict end immediately.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky
"Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years.
"As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history.
"Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
"This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion.
"Peace on our continent has been shattered, Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path.
"We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine. What we do is defensive."
US President Joe Biden
"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering."
"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," the US president said shortly after the operation began.
He warned "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring."
"The world will hold Russia accountable," he declared.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
"President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe.
"We will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets. We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise."
"In addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market."
European Commission Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell
"These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War.
"The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin
"I utterly condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Russia's indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine. Our first thoughts are with them.
"We will work with our EU partners and at the UN to hold President Putin and his regime accountable.
"Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine."
UN chief Antonio Guterres
Guterres made a direct and personal plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin after an emergency Security Council session, urging him to stop the attack "in the name of humanity".
"In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century," he said.
"The conflict must stop now," added the UN chief, who said it was the "saddest day" of his tenure.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
"Putin is bringing suffering and destruction to his direct neighbours, he is violating the sovereignty and borders of Ukraine.
"He is endangering the lives of countless innocent people (and)... the peace order on our continent. For all that there is no justification. This is Putin's war."
French President Emmanuel Macron
"The events of last night mark a turning point in the history of Europe.
"We will respond to this act of war without weakness, with cold blood, determination and unity."
"France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands by Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war," he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
"This is a catastrophe for our continent."
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi
"We have our allies at our side... Together we will do whatever it takes to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty, Europe's security, and the integrity of the international order based on the rules and values we all share."
China
The world's second-biggest economy, which shares a long border with Russia, said it was monitoring the crisis and urged restraint.
"China is closely watching the latest situation, and we call on all parties to maintain restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.
Turkish Foreign Ministry
"This attack is a grave violation of international law and poses a serious threat to the security of our region and the world.
"We call on the Russian Federation to immediately end this unjust and unlawful act."
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa
"The answer to this crisis should be a diplomatic solution... NATO will not intervene or act in Ukraine.
"Ukrainian citizens who have family, friends and acquaintances here are welcome in Portugal."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
"These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russia's obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN," Trudeau said in a statement.
He said he would meet with partners from the Group of Seven to shape a collective response, "including by imposing sanctions additional to those announced earlier this week."
"These reckless and dangerous acts will not go unpunished."
OSCE
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), of which Russia is a member, said "this attack on Ukraine puts the lives of millions of people at grave risk and is a gross breach of international law and Russia's commitments".
The statement was issued by the OSCE's current chairman, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and the organisation's secretary general, Helga Maria Schmid.
Ukraine's UN ambassador
During the charged UN emergency meeting, the Ukraine's ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya implored the council, chaired by Russia to "do everything possible to stop the war".
He demanded that Russia's ambassador relinquish his duties as chair.
"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador," the visibly emotional Kyslytsya said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
"The latest Russian invasion shakes the foundation of the international order, which does not permit unilateral attempts to change the status quo," Japan's leader said after a meeting of his national security council.
