Ukraine to Give Weapons to Anyone Who Wants to Defend Country: President

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. Anatolii Stepanov /AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday morning that the government would provide anyone with weapons from a Russian invasion that was launched in the early morning hours.

“We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities,” Zelensky said in a statement. “We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands.”