EU says it will ‘hold the Kremlin accountable’ for attack on Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the European Union would “hold the Kremlin accountable” for Russia’s attack on Ukraine. 

“In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” she said on Twitter.

“We will hold the Kremlin accountable,” von der Leyen added in a tweet.

In another joint statement with European Council President Charles Michel, von der Leyen added that leaders from the EU were set to meet later in the day on Thursday “to discuss the crisis and further restrictive measures.”

Though the U.S., the EU and other countries have issued sanctions against Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two Ukrainian separatist regions as independent earlier this week, the leaders promised more sanctions to come.

“These will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions,” the European leaders’ statement said.

In another tweet, von der Leyen specified that the sanctions would “freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop access of Russian banks to our financial market.”

“This is designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin’s ability to finance war,” she added.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, specifically pledged “the strongest package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented,” according to The Associated Press.

The remarks come after Putin ordered a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday morning.

Amid the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law and said that Russia “conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, meanwhile, called the attacks “a full-scale war against Ukraine.”

In a statement on Wednesday, President Biden condemned the invasion and voiced solidarity with Ukraine.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden said.