The US government also calls for its nationals to leave Ukraine, and strongly advises to the Americans to go to Russia, facing the risk of a Russian military operation.
Le Monde
The US government has ordered the families of American diplomats in Kiev to leave the country “because of the persistent threat of a Russian military operation,” said Sunday 23 January the State Department.
local staff and non-essential staff can leave the embassy if it wishes and US nationals residing in Ukraine “should now consider” leave the country with commercial flights or other means of transportation, Add the statement from US Department of Foreign Affairs.
“The safe situation, especially along the Ukrainian borders, in Crimea occupied by Russia and in the Donetsk controlled by Russia, is unpredictable and can deteriorate at any time,” adds the press release.
Fear of a Russian military operation
“US nationals in Ukraine should know that a Russian military operation wherever in Ukraine would seriously affect the capacity of the US Embassy to provide consular services, including assistance to US citizens leaving Ukraine” , warns the state department.
The ministry calls on the US community of Ukraine to learn about “what the US government can do or not to help you during a crisis abroad”. The State Department also advises any trip to Ukraine because of the possibility of a Russian attack. Ukraine was already not recommended for US travelers due to COVID.
It is also “strongly recommended” to American citizens to avoid going to Russia, according to a second statement from the State Department, notably justifying this decision by “the possibility of a harassment of American citizens”, In particular by the Russian police, and “an arbitrary application of local laws”.
The meeting between the Chiefs of the Russian and American diplomacy Friday in Geneva did not result in any tangible result, while Russia has massaged troops at the borders of Ukraine. Sunday, Great Britain accused the Kremlin to try to install a Prorusse manager in Ukraine.