The United States on Sunday said it was ordering the departure of eligible family members of staff from its embassy in Ukraine and that all citizens should consider leaving due to the threat of military action from Russia.
The U.S. State Department also authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. government employees and said Americans should consider departing immediately.
“We have been in consultation with the Ukrainian government about this step and are coordinating with Allied and partner embassies in Kyiv as they determine their posture,” the U.S. Embassy said.
Russia has massed troops near the border with Ukraine prompting tensions with Western powers. Moscow has insisted it has no plans to invade.
The U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north, reported continuing “unusual Russian activity near Ukraine’s border” on Sunday.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv warned in a statement that “military action by Russia could come at any time and the United States government will not be in a position to evacuate American citizens in such a contingency, so U.S. citizens currently present in Ukraine should plan accordingly.”
The State Department encourages U.S. citizens in Ukraine to use commercial or private transportation means and felt now was the right time to order and recommend leaving.
The department said in a statement that there are reports Russia is planning “significant military action” against Ukraine and the security conditions in the country are unpredictable and could “deteriorate with little notice.”
The State Department also said it was authorizing the “voluntary departure of U.S. direct hire employees.”
The New York Times reported late Sunday that President Joe Biden was considering deploying several thousand U.S. troops to NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the New York Times report but noted that Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Friday said, “we’re going to make sure that we have options ready to reassure our allies, particularly on NATO’s Eastern Flank.”
“If there’s another incursion and if they need that reassurance, if they need the capabilities to be bolstered, we’re going to do that and we’re going to make sure that we’re — that we’re ready to do that,” Kirby said.
U.S. and Russian diplomats made no major breakthrough at talks on Friday.
On Sunday, Britain accused the Kremlin of seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv.
The State Department late Sunday also reissued its advisory for Russia warning Americans not to travel, citing “ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine.” It also added “given the on-going volatility of the situation, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine through this region.”
State Department officials declined to say how many Americans are currently believed to be in Ukraine.
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution due to continued Russian efforts to destabilize the country and undermine the security of Ukrainian citizens and others visiting or residing in Ukraine.”
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is continuing to operate and its Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien remains in Ukraine, State Department officials said.
REUTERS