Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the calls for peace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine on Thursday morning, swiftly launching strikes all over the country to the condemnation of the international community.
The 37-year-old took to Instagram and wrote to his following of 407million people: ‘We need to create a better world for our children. Praying for peace in our world.’
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner briefly played alongside Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin at Real Madrid just before leaving for Juventus and was keen to show some support for his native country.
Ronaldo’s club Man United have ripped up their £40million sponsorship deal with Aeroflot.
The six-year agreement with the Russian national airline still had 18 months to run, but United confirmed on Friday that it has been terminated.
The club are already organising the removal of Aeroflot’s branding from Old Trafford – where the airline’s name is painted across the car park behind the Stretford End – with work set to start as soon as possible.
A high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning as fighting continues to rage in the capital, with Ukraine’s civilian death toll now standing at 198 following the Russian invasion.
In their nine year association with Aeroflot, United banked £100million from the deal
Shocking footage recorded nearby shows the weapon flying into the building, located near Zhuliany airport, while CCTV recorded from inside also shows the extent of the damage after the site was hit.
Images show the tower block with a hole covering at least five floors blasted into the side and rubble strewn across the street below.
There have been no fatalities recorded from the attack, however, according to an adviser to the interior minister.
Anton Herashchenko also said Russia was lying about not shelling civilian infrastructure, claiming at least 40 such sites had been hit.
Some 198 civilians, including three children, have been killed so far by Russian forces attacking the pro-Western country, Ukraine’s health minister said today.
It comes as a barrage of cruise missiles have also been launched by Russian forces against Ukrainian military facilities.
Russia has also threatened its close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with ‘military consequences’ if they join NATO.
It came as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified today after a night of fighting in the capital of Kyiv especially.
Sweden and Finland are the two closest countries to Russia in the Arctic Circle.
Russia has threatened close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with ‘military consequences’ if they join NATO
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, pictured, threatened Finland and Sweden with ‘military consequences’ Friday if either nation joins NATO
‘Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,’ foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a news briefing.
The foreign ministry later reiterated the threat on Twitter.
‘We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,’ the department wrote. ‘Finland’s accession to NATO would have serious military and political repercussions.’
Vladimir Putin is widely believed to have attacked Ukraine after western nations mooted the idea of the country joining NATO, over fears it could end up with a US military presence on its doorstep.
A similar move by Sweden or Finland could potentially provoke similar ire.
First published in Daily Mail (UK)