On Thursday, as Russian continued to pound Ukraine, neighbor Moldova declared that its parliament had approved of a “state of emergency” for 60 days, in an emergency meeting held on February 24. Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that the country was “on alert.” The president also said that they were getting ready to take in refugees fleeing from the invasion of Ukraine as multiple strikes by Russian forces are taking place. The Emergency Situations Commission will handle the crisis as well as the humanitarian challenges ahead.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister of the country Andrei Spinu informed on Facebook that Supreme Security Council, CSS had “recommended the closure of Moldovan airspace.” He said that the Civil Aviation Authority would undertake the operation starting 12 a.m. and that flights would be directed to other airports.

Meanwhile the Defense Ministry said that part of the Chisinau press had circulated false information that Ukraine had been attacked by the Russians from Transnistria, which is a breakaway Russian-supported region. Defense officials chastised the media for spreading false information without confirmation and said that they should not circulate such sensitive information without verification.

Moldova’s head of state is pro-EU and has said that they would accommodate refugees from Ukraine. He said that they would support the people who needed help and tens of thousands of them would get refuge in Moldova. The president also said that law enforcement was on alert and police patrols will boost activities so that they can prevent probable challenges.

Sandu also reiterated that their priority was the security of the people, although the government had put all state institutions on alert and had also set up a crisis management center.

The Interior Minister said that almost 2,000 Ukrainians had entered the country in the first few hours of Thursday morning and more than 15,000 Ukrainian refugees have reached Moldova in the past 24 hours.

The Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said that Moldova now has a special system for leaving or entering the country. The airspace will have special measures and procedures to manage the flow of refugees have been put in place. Moldova has a 1,222 kilometer shared border with Ukraine.

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Some American truckers began a cross-country drive from California to Washington on Wednesday to protest coronavirus restrictions, and not allowing free cross border passing in order to conduct business.

Brian Brase,  one of the organizers, said “Regardless of where the trucks stop, “we’re not going anywhere” until the group’s demands are met.”

Over 24  18-wheeler trucks, 50 pickups and recreational vehicles, have left from Adelanto, California, about 90 minutes northeast of Los Angeles. The trucker movement is called the  ‘People’s Convoy’ will take an  11-day trek to the Beltway, which is a  major highway encircling the U.S. capital. They will protest for  end to COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements.

Many truckers are driving 2500 miles or more to go to Washington. One to three thousand truckers are expected to attend

In Canada, protests blocked streets in Ottawa for over three weeks and blocked the busiest land crossing between Canada and the United States for six days.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took extreme emergency powers rarely ever used to end the protests aiding Canadian police to  restore a sense of normalcy in Ottawa

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “monitoring” the trucker convoy heading to Washington, D.C., prior to  President Biden’s State of the Union address on March 1. Assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police , the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. D.C. National Guard (DCNG) m if needed and approved will have  up to 400 troops.

On Thursday, former President George W. Bush released a statement from his home in Dallas, Texas. He condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces and called it a historic disaster. He asked Americans to remain united in the face of the aggressive stance by President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

The former president said that Russia’s attack on Ukraine constituted the “gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II.” He said that he joined the international community in “condemning Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”

President Bush also asked all Americans to stand united behind the people of Ukraine. He said that both the American government as well as people in the nation “must stand united” with the people and the government of Ukraine as they sought their “freedom” as well as the “right to choose their future.”

He also took direct aim at the Russian President as he said that the “authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses” could not be tolerated. He described Ukraine as the nation’s friend as well as a democratic ally. He noted that the country and its people deserved “full support” during their most difficult time.

Other Republicans who have commented that America should offer full support to Ukraine include congressman Michael McCaul from Texas, who is the Republican Leader of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Chuck Grassley, a senior member of the GOP from Iowa.

Although President Bush and other senior Republican colleagues are standing beside the government of President Biden by condemning the invasion of Ukraine and unitedly offering support, one prominent Republican has come out in support of President Putin.

Former President Donald Trump, who remains the leader of the GOP, recently praised the Russian leader. He called Putin a “genius.” Trump also described the Russian troops who invaded their neighboring country, Ukraine as “peacekeepers.”