McCarthy, Schumer and other top congressional leaders condemn Russian war on Ukraine: 'Reckless and evil'

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Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent reports from Moscow as Russia invades Ukraine.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other top congressional leaders Thursday slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin as "evil" over his war on Ukraine, and called for him to face massive backlash for the invasion. 

"Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve," McCarthy, R-Calif., said. "Putin’s actions must be met with serious consequence. This act of war is intended to rewrite history and more concerning, upend the balance of power in Europe. Putin must be held accountable for his actions."

"What we have in Europe now is the first shooting war since World War II. This is a serious serious incident," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., added. He levied criticism against President Biden's strategy so far on Russia before arguing that the U.S. and the West should deploy every available sanction against Russia immediately. 

"We're all together at this point and we need to be together about what should be done. But I have some advice. Ratchet the sanctions all the way up. Don't hold any back. Every single available tough sanction should be employed and should be employed now," McConnell said. "There's no such thing as a little invasion."

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., addressed the Ukraine invasion at a press conference about abortion in New York Thursday. 

"The bottom line is simple. Vladimir Putin... has launched an unprovoked, immoral invasion of Ukraine," Schumer said. "No one ... should fall... for Putin's lies that the Ukrainians wanted him to invade or that he was provoked to invade."

Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine from multiple fronts Wednesday evening U.S. time. Putin declared a "special military operation" in the country in a pre-recorded video from earlier this week that was broadcast early Thursday morning Russian time. 

Air raid sirens and explosions could be heard in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, throughout Thursday. Massive plumes of smoke were also visible in the area. 

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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., in a Thursday press release called Russia's behavior "thuggery" and issued a similar warning to McCarthy's: "Vladimir Putin is a dictator bent on the reimposition of the Soviet Union sphere of influence. Today he has proven that he will spare nothing to meet this end."

"His military invasion of his democratic neighbor is a rejection of the will of its people, who have fought hard for the past decade for their independence," Hoyer added. "I join those around the world in praying for the people of Ukraine in their hour of danger."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hasn't addressed the Ukraine situation since Russia began its full-fledged offensive late Wednesday U.S. time. But she slammed Putin as a "tyrant" in a press conference earlier Wednesday, after Russian troops first entered the Donbas region earlier this week. 

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President Biden Wednesday condemned Russia's war as "an unprovoked and unjustified attack" and promised to levy tough sanctions against Russia. Biden also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy early Thursday and said, "We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."

Biden is expected to deliver further remarks Thursday afternoon.

Fox News' Trey Yingst and Peter Doocy contributed to this report.