BRUSSELS (AP) — World leaders Thursday condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “barbaric” and moved to slap unprecedented economic sanctions on Moscow and those close to President Vladimir Putin.
The West and its allies showed no inclination to send troops into Ukraine — a non-member of NATO — and risk a wider European war. But NATO reinforced its member states in Eastern Europe as a precaution against an attack on them, too.
“Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory,” said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Around the world, the outbreak of fighting sent stocks tumbling and oil prices surging on fears of higher costs for food and fuel.
Countries from Japan, South Korea and Australia to Western Europe and the U.S. lined up to condemn the attack and began taking steps to isolate Moscow in hopes of forcing it to pay so high a price that it changes course. As the first major world leader to make a big move, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a freeze on the assets of all large Russian banks and plans to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.
