The US Department of Foreign Affairs justified this decision in particular by “the possibility of harassment of American citizens”, in particular by the Russian police, and “arbitrary application of local laws”.
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Tension continues to mount between Washington and Moscow. The US government on Sunday January 23 ordered the families of US diplomats stationed in Kyiv to leave the country “due to the continuing threat of a Russian military operation” and advised Americans not to travel to Russia.
Local staff and non-essential staff can leave the Kyiv embassy if they wish, the State Department said in a statement. US nationals residing in Ukraine “should now consider” to leave the country by commercial flights or other means of transport, adds the American State Department.
“The security situation, especially along the Ukrainian borders, in Russian-occupied Crimea and in Russian-controlled Donetsk, is unpredictable and could deteriorate at any time”, says the State Department.
“We believe that a Russian invasion… could happen at any moment, a senior US official told reporters. The United States would not be in a position to evacuate American citizens in this scenario.” The embassy remains open and Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien “stay in Ukraine”, added this official who requested anonymity.
The US government has also advised US nationals against traveling to Russia. “due to the tension on the border with Ukraine”. The Ministry justified this decision in particular by “the possibility of harassment of American citizens”, in particular by the Russian police, and “an arbitrary application of local laws”.
Westerners accuse Russia of having deployed more than 100,000 soldiers on the borders of Ukraine to prepare an invasion of this former Soviet republic. The White House has warned that Russia could launch its offensive “at any time”. The Kremlin denies any belligerent intention but conditions a de-escalation on treaties guaranteeing the non-enlargement of NATO, in particular to Ukraine, and a withdrawal from the Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe.