Western leaders say they have never been more united following the recent emergency summit in Brussels.
Here’s what various politicians had to say in their own words.
United States President Joe Biden
The American leader says a chemical attack by Russia would “trigger a response in kind”.
“You’re asking whether NATO would cross. We’d make that decision at the time,” Biden told reporters.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
The British PM says tougher Russian sanctions will help end its war in Ukraine sooner.
“Vladimir Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism,” he said on Thursday (European time).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelenskyy, while thankful for NATO’s help, has made it clear to the West that he needs far more than they’re currently willing to give.
“One percent of all your planes, one percent of all your tanks,” the Ukrainian President asked members of the NATO alliance during a video address.
“We can’t just buy those. When we will have all this, it will give us, just like you, 100 pe cent security.”
NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg
The Norwegian has warned China against coming to Russia’s rescue in Ukraine.
He called on Beijing to “join he rest of the world and clearly condemn the brutal war against Ukraine and not support Russia”.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Germany has maintained its position that an immediate boycott of Russian energy supplies would cause significant damage to its economy. However, the country’s Chancellor says the process can – and should – be gradual.
“[Boycotts] from one day to the next would mean plunging our country and all of Europe into recession,” Scholz told reporters.
French President Emmanuel Macron
France’s leader says it’s important Europe supports a Ukrainian victory without triggering a third world war.
“We have decided to intensify our ongoing work to prevent any escalation and to get organised in case there is an escalation,” he said.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin
Finland is not a member of NATO. However, the Nordic country’s PM had some strong words for Russia on Thursday (European time).
“Russia is capable of anything,” Marin told reporters.
“They don’t respect any rules. They don’t respect any international laws that they are actually committed to.”
AP, Reuters
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