The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has said he has "no choice but to take up arms" after Vladimir Putin announced an invasion of Ukraine. He added that he would "fight" Russia if war is announced.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion said the people of Kiev have weapons and have become "soldiers ready to defend our city," which he said is threatened by a Russian takeover.
Asked if he believed it was possible to repel the invasion, Klitschko said, "I believe in it. I believe in Ukraine, I believe in my country and I believe in my people."
He said President Putin had "completely" lost any sense of reality after launching a "bloody war."
"We do not have an exact number, but we know many, many examples" of Ukrainians who died in Russia's attack.
Asked if he would join civilians and soldiers in the fight against Russian forces, Klitschko said, "I have no other choice. I have to do this," adding, "I will fight."
He thanked the West for supporting Ukraine after Boris Johnson announced a "massive" sanctions package "designed to cripple the Russian economy in time."
In an address to the nation, Johnson said, "Our mission is clear, diplomatically, politically, and ultimately militarily, this vile and barbaric enterprise by Vladimir Putin must fail."
He added that the world cannot allow Ukraine's freedom to be "extinguished" and "we cannot and will not simply look the other way."
The Russian invasion was launched overnight, with President Putin telling the West that any interference would lead to "consequences you have never seen before."