Russia-Ukraine conflict: Singapore calls for immediate stop to military action

SINGAPORE has called for an immediate stop to military action in Ukraine, after reports that Russia has launched land and air attacks after weeks of troop build-ups on the border.

"Singapore strongly condemns any unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country under any pretext," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Thursday (Feb 24).

Russia's announcement of military operations in the disputed Donbas region, as well as reports of attacks on multiple targets in Ukraine, have left Singapore "gravely concerned", according to the latest MFA statement on the situation in Ukraine.

International media have reported blasts in the capital of Kyiv, as well as cities including Kramatorsk in the east, and the port of Odesa in the south. Ukraine also said that Russian military convoys have entered from Russia, Belarus and the contested Crimean peninsula.

Russian troops reportedly commenced military actions on Thursday morning (local time), even as the United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency meeting on the crisis.

Russia's actions have been criticised by the European Union and other Western countries, as well as Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. Indonesia called for negotiation and diplomacy, but ruled out sanctions for now.

Reiterating that "the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected", Singapore's MFA spokesperson said: "We hope military actions will cease immediately; and urge a peaceful settlement of the dispute, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law."

The MFA on Feb 13 advised Singaporeans who were in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Singapore does not have a diplomatic mission in Ukraine.