Zelensky: Ukraine cuts diplomatic ties with Russia after invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced his country was cutting diplomatic ties with Moscow amid Russia’s military invasion into Ukraine, according to The New York Times.

Zelensky made the announcement as an adviser said that over 40 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the assault and several more had been wounded, notes the Times.

The Ukrainian president also put a statement on Twitter, condemning Russia’s attacks and linking them to Nazi Germany’s actions in World War II.

“Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW 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 & won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks,” tweeted Zelensky.

Russia began a military assault in Ukraine early Thursday, while Russian forces struck Ukraine with missile attacks across the country, far past the separatist regions that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he sought to defend, including the capital city, Kyiv.

Putin announced that Russia began a “special military operation” and claimed that it was in defense of the separatist regions of Ukraine and that he was seeking the “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.” 

The Russian leader also threatened allies that may come to the aid of Ukraine, saying, “Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history. We are ready for any turn of events.”