Ukraine: Russian Invasion Is A ‘Threat To The Entire World’, Estonian Prime Minister Warns

Russia 'full-scale invasion' of Ukraine is a 'threat to the entire world', according Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

Warfare has broken out after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Air raid sirens have been blaring across Kyiv, while residents in Lviv have been reportedly told not to panic, but turn off the lights and take cover.

It's unclear how many have been killed at the time of writing, but explosions have rocked Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and the capital, Russian planes are said to have been shot down, while Ukraine is being attacked from the north, east and south, local reports say.

Putin's announcement claimed that a 'hostile anti-Russia is being created on our historic lands', and cited the need for the 'demilitarisation and denazification', echoing a conspiracy theory that Kyiv's government is being controlled by the far-right.

While insisting 'we do not intend to occupy' Ukraine, he also issued a chilling warning to the west should foreign nations interfere in its invasion. Meanwhile, world leaders have collectively condemned Putin and vowed to act 'decisively', from supporting Ukraine's defences to enforcing the 'strongest, harshest package' of sanctions ever implemented.

NATO member states Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have triggered NATO Article Four in order to launch consultations over the Ukraine invasion. In a statement from the Estonian government, Kallas said Russia's actions represented a 'threat to the whole of Europe'.

'Russia's widespread aggression is a threat to the entire world and to all NATO countries, and NATO consultations on strengthening the security of the Allies must be initiated to implement additional measures for ensuring the defence of NATO Allies. The most effective response to Russia's aggression is unity,' she said, as per CNN.

Article Four states, 'The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.'

This is particularly significant given Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania's addition to the NATO alliance was opposed by Putin, who described the notion of Ukraine's membership as a 'hostile act'. Earlier this week, after deploying 'peacekeeping' troops in the so-called people's republics, Putin warned 'the best decision that Ukraine could take would be to renounce its NATO membership ambitions'.

Following Putin's announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticised Putin for 'bringing war back to Europe... we condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments that are being used to justify it.'

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