In a joint statement by G-7 leaders today, threatening to impose severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions on Moscow, the G-7 industrialized countries declared that they strongly condemned the "Russian invasion of Ukraine."

The statement said: "This crisis poses a serious threat to the rules-based international order and its repercussions will transcend the borders of Europe."

The statement considered that Russian President Vladimir Putin had returned the war to the European continent.

The leaders of the group expressed support for coordination between major energy producers and consumers in order to stabilize the global energy supply and expressed their willingness to address potential disruptions.

Following the official request of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics for Russia's support against the Ukrainian military, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier today the launch of a special military operation in Donbass, south-eastern Ukraine.

Putin stressed that Russia was not planning to occupy Ukrainian territory, noting that all of Russia's attempts to reach agreement on the non-expansion of NATO had failed.

Russia's goal was to protect people, who over eight years had been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime.

In response to this move, Western States imposed sanctions against Russia and threatened to impose further sanctions against Moscow.