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CARICOM has joined the global community in strongly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It has also called for an immediate and complete withdrawal of military forces from the Eastern European country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the military operation in Ukraine early this morning, with explosions being heard across the country and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister warning a “full-scale invasion” was under way.
Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.
Russia has called for an end to NATO’s eastward expansion and said Ukrainian membership of the US-led Atlantic military alliance was unacceptable.
CARICOM says Moscow should withdraw its troops and cease any further actions that could intensify the current perilous situation in that country.
It says the principles of universal respect and adherence to these norms and principles of international law are fundamental to the maintenance of the international system and global peace and security, and urged all involved to embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards a sustainable peace.
