A number of eastern European NATO countries have triggered Article 4 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared in an early morning televised address to the people of Russia, President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in Ukraine.
In the national address, Putin announced that the "special military operation" is aimed at the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine. He added that the main goal of the operation is to protect those who have "suffered from abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime".
Putin also urged the Ukrainian forces to lay down their weapons and go home, and warned that "those who may be tempted to intervene" will face consequences. He said:
"Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history."
President Zelensky of Ukraine responded by saying: "If we are attacked militarily, if they try to take away our freedom, our lives, our children's lives, we will defend ourselves."
"When you attack, you will see our faces and not our spines, our faces," Zelensky added.
Over the last few hours, CNN has reported that several explosions have been reported across many Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.
In response, CNN has now declared that the European countries of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have triggered NATO Article 4 in an effort to launch consultations within the alliance over Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Per The North Atlantic Treaty, Article 4 states: "The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened."
On Twitter the Estonian government added:
"#Estonia unequivocally condemns #Russia's military attack on #Ukraine and we have decided to launch #NATO consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and other Allies."
Per the official NATO website, Article 4 consultations can lead to collective action among the 30 member states.
The website adds: "In Article 4 of NATO’s founding treaty, members can bring any issue of concern, especially related to the security of a member country, to the table for discussion within the North Atlantic Council."
Article 4 has been invoked six times in the 63-year history of the alliance - most recently in February of 2020 when dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed following an attack by Syrian government forces.
On two instances of Article 4 being invoked, NATO responded with military aid. In 2003, it sent aircraft and missile batteries to southeastern Turkey along the border with Iraq and in 2012, it sent Patriot missile batteries to protect against Syrian attacks.
Earlier today, NATO released a statement in response to Russia's invasion, stating:
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked. Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured, and with the people of Ukraine. We also condemn Belarus for enabling this attack."
It adds: "We stand with the people of Ukraine and its legitimate, democratically elected president, parliament, and government. We will always maintain our full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.
"We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need."
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