In a speech delivered on Wednesday, Feb. 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a "special military operation" would begin in Ukraine.

Russia launched what Ukraine said was a “full-scale attack” against its neighbor on Thursday, with cities bombarded from the air and forces fighting on the ground. 

Putin announced the military action after weeks of tense buildup, drawing backlash from leaders across the world. 

President Joe Biden said that he would meet with allies to impose "severe sanctions" on Moscow.

On the homefront, several U.S. Latinx lawmakers have already made statements in response to the invasion and expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro posted a thread on Twitter explaining why the conflict in Ukraine is relevant to Americans.

“If Russia is allowed to invade Ukraine without consequence, we will return to a world where the strong prey on the weak and sovereignty is conditioned on military might,” Castro wrote.

He then said that Putin’s actions have already triggered a global rise in energy prices and worsened inflation. Castro warned that continued Russian aggression could raise the prices we pay for everything from cars to heating oil. 

“Americans know that the world is safer, stronger, and more prosperous when free people are allowed to choose their own associations and their own destinies,” Castro wrote, adding the hashtag #StandWithUkraine. 

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ruben Gallego both condemned Russia’s invasion and stood in solidarity with Ukrainian people. 

“The safety of the Ukrainian people is paramount. Putin and his cronies must be held accountable with crippling sanctions. The consequences must be devastating,” Gallego wrote on Twitter. 

“The U.S. is right to impose targeted sanctions on Putin & his oligarchs. We also must work with our allies to prepare for a refugee crisis on a massive scale. Finally, any military action must take place with Congressional approval,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. 

Two Latinx Senators, Alex Padilla and Catherine Cortez Mastro, also agreed with Biden’s plan to enact sanctions against Putin. 

“Putin’s decision to launch a violent, unprovoked attack on Ukraine must be met with crushing sanctions and a strong, unified response from the United States and our allies,” Cortez Mastro tweeted. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, 43 lawmakers, including Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, and Raúl M. Grijalva sent a letter to Biden, urging him to get congressional approval before sending troops into Ukraine.

"The American people, through their representatives in Congress, deserve to have a say before U.S. troops are placed in harm's way or the U.S. becomes involved in yet another foreign conflict," the lawmakers wrote.