Russia-Ukraine updates: US to ban Russian carriers from its airspace

Russia's parliament speaker claimed Thursday that the "sole purpose" of the country's invasion of Ukraine "is to secure peace," saying "Russia has never been an enemy."

"I am calling on Ukrainian citizens: We have always deemed you to be a fraternal people. The sole purpose of what our country is doing is to secure peace," State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in a statement. "We are asking you to step aside and do not take part in any mobilization campaigns proposed by the Kyiv authorities. They are not independent, all orders come from Washington and Brussels."

Volodin also urged Ukrainian Armed Forces to lay down their weapons, saying the orders given from Kyiv are criminal and serve the interests of NATO and the United States. He noted that Russia and Ukraine share history, culture and religion.

-ABC News' Anastasia Bagaeva

Russian forces are attacking Ukraine "from the north, east and south," according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Our soldiers are heavily fighting, the aggressor suffered heavy losses," Zelenskyy said in an address to the Ukrainian public from Kyiv on Thursday morning. "We have wounded soldiers."

He added that the Ukrainian military "is giving and will give weapons to everyone who is able to defend out country."

The Ukrainian president also announced that his country has "cut diplomatic ties with Russia."

"Ukraine is defending its freedom," he said. "Citizens of Russia will choose today their own way. Time for you to come out and protest this war with Ukraine."

Just hours before Russia launched the early morning invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbor, a senior Pentagon official told ABC News: "You are likely in the last few hours of peace on the European continent for a long time to come. Be careful."

-ABC News' Julia Drozd and Martha Raddatz

At least three Ukrainian border guards were killed near the southern port city of Skadovsk on Thursday morning after a commandant's headquarters was shelled by a Russian helicopter, according to Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.

They are the first reported deaths after Russia launched military operations in Ukraine early Thursday.

An unknown number of personnel were also wounded, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said in a statement on its official Facebook page, noting that the border guards in the area were still fighting.

-ABC News' Julia Drozd

Leaders of the European Union are urging Russia to "immediately cease" its attack on Ukraine, saying "such use of force and coercion has no place in the 21st century."

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine," European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement Thursday. "By its unprovoked and unjustified military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability. We call on Russia to immediately cease the hostilities, withdraw its military from Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence."

They noted that EU leaders will meet later Thursday "to discuss the crisis and further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action." They said von der Leyen "will outline a further sanctions package being finalized by the European Commission and which the Council will swiftly adopt."

In on-camera statements Thursday, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, pledged to "adopt a stronger package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented."

Von der Leyen added that the EU "will not let President Putin tear down the security architecture that has given Europe peace and stability over the past decades."

"Ukraine will prevail," she said.

-ABC News' Anastasia Bagaeva, Ines de la Cuetara and Aicha El Hammar Castano