KEY POINTS

  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle support the people of Ukraine
  • They urged the global community to do the same
  • Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Thursday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken their silence on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement on their charity website Archewell, expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

“Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same,” the statement read.

The statement comes after Russia invaded Ukraine, marking the biggest attack on any European country since World War II. The deadly military confrontation began when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Thursday the deployment of Russian troops in what he called a “special military operation” in Donbas, in a bid to demilitarise Russia's southern neighbor, which he believes is a serious threat.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensk declared martial law in response to the attack and urged citizens to join the fight for their country. Meanwhile, Putin warned anyone who would intervene that they “must know that Russia’s answer will be immediate, and will lead to such consequences as you never experienced in your history.”

Following Putin’s televised address, U.S. President Joe Biden released a statement, saying Russia would be accountable for the attack that has defied international law and killed more than a hundred soldiers and civilians in Ukraine.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” said Biden. “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.”

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also condemned Putin’s move in his address to the nation on Thursday. “President Putin of Russia has unleashed war in our European continent. He has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse,” he said.

Boris said the U.K. would agree to a package of economic sanctions to “hobble” the Russian economy to avenge for what happened to Ukraine. “Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically—and eventually militarily—this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.”

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival in New York City
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival in New York City AFP / Angela Weiss