"This is the saddest moment in my tenure as secretary general of the United Nations," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. "President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia' and don't start 'what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century."

European Union – President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen tweeted; "We will not let President Putin tear down Europe's security architecture" and Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell called on Putin to stop the "senseless aggression".