Iran Press/ America: On Wednesday, 24 February morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially announced a special military operation against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he had no other choice than to launch the military operation to stop the Ukrainian military’s interference in two eastern republics that have broken away from Ukraine. Russia perceives NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat.
Moscow launched a military operation against its neighbor this week, arguing that it was defending the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which broke off from the eastern part of Ukraine shortly after the 2014 coup in Kyiv. Ukraine said the move was an act of unprovoked aggression.
The White House said in a statement that the United States, in coordination with its European allies, had imposed sanctions on eight wealthy Russians as well as their family members and also imposed visa restrictions on 19 other Russian nationals.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov is among those on the US sanctions list.
The United States also imposed sanctions on 22 Russian companies on Wednesday.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday said that Moscow would not give in to US pressure and threats, adding that its special military operation in Ukraine would continue until the end. 219
