New Delhi: The US government has ordered the families of all American personnel at the US embassy in Ukraine to leave the country amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion.
The state department told the dependents of staffers at the US embassy in Kyiv that they must leave the country. It also said that non-essential embassy staff could leave Ukraine at government expense.
There are reports Russia is planning significant military action against Ukraine. The Security conditions, particularly along Ukraine’s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia- controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. Demonstration, which has turned violent at times, regularly occurs throughout Ukraine, Including in Kyiv,’ the travel advisory said.
US officials stressed the Kyiv embassy will remain open and that Sunday’s announcement does not constitute an evacuation. The move had been under consideration for some time and does not reflect an easing of US support for Ukraine, the officials said
“Military action by Russia could come at any time,” the US embassy said. Officials “will not be in a position to evacuate American citizens in such a contingency, so US citizens currently present in Ukraine should plan accordingly,” it added.
The statement came amid rising tensions about Russia’s military buildup on the Ukraine border that were not eased during talks Friday between the secretary of state Antony Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva.
Ahead of foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday, a senior European official said the EU would be ready to launch sanctions “within days” if Russian troops launch an invasion.
(_Vinayak Barot)