President of the Republic, Ilir Meta has condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. 

The head of state calls on Russia to withdraw from military action against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Meta emphasizes that Albania stands with Ukraine and its people. 

"Albania condemns Russia's unjustifiable attack on Ukraine, violating international law and threatening the lives of innocent civilians. We call on Russia to withdraw from military action against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine! Albania stands with Ukraine and its people in this dark hour!" writes Meta.

Vladimir Putin has begun a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine and demanded Kyiv’s army lay down its weapons, starting what could be the largest conflict in Europe since the second world war. In an address on state television shortly before 6am on Thursday, Russia’s president said Moscow would seek to “de-Nazify” Ukraine and “defend” victims of “genocide”. 

There are no signs of such crime being perpetrated by the Kyiv authorities. He warned other countries against “the temptation of meddling in the ongoing events” and said Russia’s response would “lead you to consequences that you have never encountered in your history”. “The goal is to defend people who have been victims of abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime,” Putin said. “All responsibility for the possible bloodshed will be fully and completely on the conscience of the ruling regime.” 

In Kyiv before dawn on Thursday, Financial Times reporters heard explosions. In the city’s downtown area, an air raid siren sounded at about 7am, sending people into shelters. Social media users in Ukraine reported hearing blasts in other cities, including Kharkiv and the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kramatorsk in the disputed eastern Donbas region. 

Russian troops were also attacking from Ukraine’s border with Belarus using artillery, heavy equipment and small arms, Ukraine’s state border guard service said. Attacks were being started from Crimea as well. Putin spoke with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko an hour before the Russian president announced the start of the military assault on Ukraine, Minsk said. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky called for martial law in a brief televised address to the nation, adding that he had “one hour ago” spoken with his US counterpart Joe Biden.