President Joe Biden is among many world leaders to have spoken about the Ukraine crisis. /Alex Brandon/AP
U.S. President Joe Biden was poised to unveil harsh new sanctions against Russia on Thursday after Moscow's military operations in Ukraine.
His announcement represents the second tranche of sanctions against Russia since Vladimir Putin earlier this week recognized the independence of two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sent troops there. The U.S. had warned it would initiate waves of sanctions against Moscow in the event of further action in Ukraine.
Biden met with his counterparts from the Group of Seven (G7) allies to map out more severe measures against Russia after what Biden called "a premeditated war" against Ukraine.
Biden held a virtual conference with the leaders from Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the UK, the European Commission and Council and NATO.
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Donbas explained: The center of conflict
The group was looking at ways to respond to what Biden called "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine. "President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden wrote.
"This crisis is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe," the G7 leaders said in a joint statement, adding Putin had re-introduced war to the European continent. "He has put himself on the wrong side of history," said the statement.
Britain unveiled new measures targeting banks, members of Putin's inner circle and the wealthy Russians who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles. Russia's flag-carrying airline Aeroflot has also been banned from flying to the UK. Johnson told parliament that leaders had agreed to work together to "maximize the economic price" Putin will pay.
The reaction in neighboring countries
Hundreds of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict have started arriving in neighboring central European countries, which have set up reception points and sent troops towards the borders to provide assistance.
The countries on the European Union's eastern flank were all once part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO. Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania all share land borders with Ukraine.
Also sharing a land border with Ukraine is Moldova, which is not a NATO member. Its government will ask parliament to declare a state of emergency for 60 days, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said.
Further north and bordering Russia, Latvia will stop issuing visas to Russian nationals, the country's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted on Thursday. The Baltic nation has also decided to bring its ambassador to Moscow back to Riga for consultations.
The U.S. deployed F-35 fighter jets to Latvia's neighbor Estonia and Lithuania on Thursday and extended the stay of its existing troops in the region, the Lithuanian defense ministry said. F-35 fighter jets have not been deployed to the Baltics before.
Denmark will increase its contributions to NATO forces by deploying around 200 soldiers to Estonia as well as two F-16 fighter jets to perform aerial policing in Poland's air space, the government said. The soldiers would be deployed in the first half of March, said the country's chief of defense.
Denmark will also make preparations to be able to receive refugees from Ukraine as well as send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighboring countries, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed.
Denmark said earlier this month it would sharpen its military readiness including the deployment of two fighter jets to an island in the Baltic Sea and preparing a combat battalion of 700 to 800 soldiers able to contribute to NATO's operations.
International bodies
International bodies have also spoken out about the crisis. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer said civilians and critical infrastructure such as water and power systems should be protected from attack.
"The use of weapons with wide area effects should be avoided in populated areas," said Maurer. "Essential infrastructure must be spared, including water, gas and electrical systems that, for instance, provide civilian homes, schools and medical facilities with vital water and electricity supplies. Attacks carried out with new technologies and cyber means must also respect international humanitarian law."
The World Health Organization (WHO) also expressed its worry over an expected health emergency in Ukraine. "The WHO Regional Office for Europe reiterates its deepest concern for the safety, health and wellbeing of all civilians impacted by the crisis in the country and possibly beyond," it said in a statement.
"WHO/Europe is working closely with all UN partners in rapidly scaling up readiness to respond to the expected health emergency triggered by the conflict, protecting our staff, and minimizing disruptions to the delivery of critical health care services," it said.
European soccer's governing body UEFA also spoke out, saying it "strongly condemns" Russia's actions. It has called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the Champions League Final, which is scheduled to take place in the Russian city of St Petersburg on May 28, and a decision is expected on Friday.
Video editor: Steve Chappell