Photo: OLEG PETRASYUK / EFE
The United States pulled some US forces out of Ukraine and ordered the evacuation of most of its embassy staff on Saturday as fears mount of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the coming days.
The moves are signs of growing concern among US officials about the safety of their citizens in the Ukraine.
The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, ordered the members of the Florida National Guard who left the Ukraine and relocated them to “other places in Europe”, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. The 160 soldiers have been in Ukraine since November on a training mission.
“They will leave Ukraine and relocate to other places in Europe. The secretary made this decision out of an abundance of caution, with the safety of our personnel in mind, and informed by State Department guidance on U.S. personnel in Ukraine,” Kirby said in a statement.
Consular services in Ukraine are suspended
A travel advisory issued by the State Department on Saturday said it had “ordered the departure of most direct-contracted US employees from the Embassy in Kiev due to the continuing threat of Russian military action.”
He also indicated that consular services would be suspended, but emphasized that a small presence would be maintained diplomatic mission in the city of Lviv, in the west of the country, about 50 miles from the border with Poland, to handle emergencies.
The government of the United States this Saturday warned its citizens who are in Ukraine that it will not be able to help them in a “war zone” if Russia invades the country, after urging them to leave the country and ordering them to leave of most diplomatic employees.
“War zones are inherently volatile, unpredictable and extremely dangerous by definition. We will have very little capacity to help our citizens when that happens,” a senior State Department official explained in a call with reporters on Saturday.
The official asked Americans still in Ukraine to have “realistic” expectations about what their country’s government will and will not be able to do in a situation of armed conflict, and reminded them that the Armed Forces will not come to their rescue at the last minute.
Other countries they also ask to leave the Ukraine
the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark toon asked their citizens to leave Ukraine on Friday while there are still commercial means available to do so, while Spain assured that it has prepared the evacuation device for Spanish, in case you have to activate it.
The European Union (EU) in turn has decided to allow “non-essential” personnel of its diplomatic representation in Kiev to leave Ukraine.
Biden warns Putin
In a phone call lasting about an hour, the White House said that President Joe Biden made it clear to the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, which he would be risking with an invasion of Ukraine.
“President Biden made it clear that if Russia undertakes a new invasion of Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia.
With information from CNN and Agencia EFE
Te can interest:
– Biden warned Putin that the US and its allies will respond “decisively” against Russia if they invade Ukraine
– The US urges its citizens sa leave Ukraine at 01 to 48 hours and send more troops to Europe
– Ukraine accuses Russia of subjecting it to a naval blockade with military exercises