Former US Presidents Obama and Bush Jr condemn Russia for military operation in Ukraine

Barack Obama, who was President of the United States from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017, condemned the special military operation of Russian troops in Ukraine, RBC reports.

As the former head of the White House stated on his Twitter, Russia did this not because Ukraine posed a threat to it, “but because the people of Ukraine chose the path of sovereignty, self-determination and democracy.”

Moscow’s actions were also criticized by another former US president, George W. Bush (he held this post in 2001-2009). He, in particular, called the military operation an unjustified invasion, which would entail “the most serious security crisis on the European continent since the Second World War.”

Recall that on the morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an emergency appeal to the Russians and announced a special military operation in the Donbass. In his speech, he stated that “circumstances require decisive action from Russia” and stressed that “Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons.”

According to the Russian leader, the plans of the Russian Federation “do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories,” however, “the Russian Federation considers it important that all the peoples of Ukraine can exercise the right of self-determination.”

Reacting to the Kremlin’s decision, US President Joe Biden, in a special statement, called Russia’s attack on Ukraine unprovoked and unjustified and promised to hold it to account.

For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Putin to “stop the soldiers” from attacking Ukraine and give peace a chance.

In response to Russia’s actions, Western countries (USA, Canada, European Union, Great Britain, Japan) announced new, tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation, including financial and economic ones.