The US State Department has ordered the families of all US employees at the US Embassy in Ukraine to leave the country amid growing fears of a Russian invasion.
The department informed the families of the employees of the US Embassy in Kiev to leave the country.
She also said that non-essential embassy staff could leave Ukraine at the government’s expense.
The move came amid rising tensions over Russia’s military build-up on the Ukraine border, which were not eased during Friday’s talks between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva.
Foreign Ministry officials stressed that the Kiev embassy would remain open and that the announcement did not constitute an evacuation.
Officials said the move had been under consideration for some time and did not reflect a decline in US support for Ukraine.
In a statement, the State Department noted recent reports that Russia is planning major military action against Ukraine.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused NATO countries of escalating tensions over Ukraine with misinformation.
The Foreign Ministry added: “Security conditions, particularly along the Ukrainian border, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and could deteriorate without warning.
«Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, occur regularly throughout Ukraine, including Kiev.»
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the European Union does not plan to withdraw the families of diplomats from Ukraine for the time being.
We wouldn’t do the same because we don’t know any specific reasons. Borrell told reporters on Monday as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts that Mr. Blinken is expected to join online.
“Negotiations are ongoing,” Borrell said, adding that he sees no reason to leave Ukraine “unless Minister Blinken provides us with information justifying the move.”
Meanwhile, the Irish government has expressed concern about the planned Russian naval military exercises 240 kilometers off the southwest coast.
The artillery exercises will take place at the beginning of February in international waters, but within Irish-controlled airspace and the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
All civilian aircraft will be directed away from the area during the exercises.
In compliance with legal requirements, Russia informed the Irish aviation authorities of the planned activities in advance.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has insisted there will be no impact on the safety of civil aircraft operations.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney raised the issue with the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuri Filatov.
Coveney is due to arrive in Brussels on Monday for a scheduled meeting with other EU foreign ministers to discuss the ongoing tensions on the Russian/Ukrainian border.
The minister is due to raise his concerns about Russian naval exercises at the meeting.
In light of the current political and security environment in Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised a number of concerns with the Russian authorities regarding these exercises. «We will continue these discussions in the coming days,» Mr. Coveney said.
He added that Ireland, along with several EU countries, had updated its travel advice for Ukraine.
«We recommend Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel into the country at this time,» he said. – agencies
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