“Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured, and with the people of Ukraine. We also condemn Belarus for enabling this attack,” the statement said, adding: “This renewed attack is a grave violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and is wholly contradictory to Russia’s commitments in the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris, the Budapest Memorandum and the NATO-Russia Founding Act. It constitutes an act of aggression against an independent peaceful country.”

The alliance went on to say: “We stand with the people of Ukraine and its legitimate, democratically elected president, parliament, and government. We will always maintain our full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.”

The alliance called on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, “to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need”.

“Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad. We stand united to defend each other,” the alliance emphasized. (ILKHA)