Ukraine sent out a global call to arms seeking foreigners who would help the country fend off an invasion by Russia.
On the fourth day of the assault, with Russian military forces attacking the capital of Kyiv and other locations all across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration announced the formation of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
"Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet Sunday.
In a message to "all citizens of the world, friends of Ukraine, peace and democracy," Zelensky said, according to CNN, "Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals."
The invasion began Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a "special military operation" that he said was aimed at the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine, not its occupation. Putin also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen."
Although Russia's forces greatly outnumber Ukrainian forces, progress with the assault has been slower than Moscow expected, according to Western intelligence assessments.
SNAKE ISLAND DEFENDERS MAY BE ALIVE, UKRAINE SAYS
With Ukrainians mounting a fierce defense, Zelenksy has refused reported pleas for him to evacuate. “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride,” he said, according to a U.S. intelligence official as reported by the Associated Press. Zelensky said in a video posted Sunday that Ukraine is open to talks with Russia about ending the bloodshed, but rejected the prospect of meeting in Belarus, which has become one of the staging grounds for invading military forces.
Ukraine declared martial law, and all adult men, 18-60, have been ordered to stay in the country. Meanwhile, at least 150,000 people fleeing the violence have crossed into neighboring countries, the United Nations refugee chief said on Saturday.
Countries around the world, including the United States, have condemned Moscow's invasion and have unleashed a wave of new sanctions on Russia. Although they aren't sending troops to fight for Ukraine, over the past couple days, President Joe Biden and other world leaders authorized tens of millions of dollars in additional military support Ukrainian forces. Among other actions taken by European nations is blocking Russian flights from their airspace.
Ukraine is not a NATO member but neighbors a number of NATO member states. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Friday that the alliance is “now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context" in response to Russia's invasion.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/ukraine-invites-foreigners-to-join-international-legion-in-fight-against-russia
Stand with Ukraine!
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