The United States has moved on Monday its Ukrainian embassy operations to neighboring Poland overnight amid the increased risks of a possible invasion by Russia following Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of Donbas breakaway republics.
The State Department’s decision on relocating its embassy was announced by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who noted that Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland for security reasons.
Adding that the US commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering, Blinken noted that the Embassy personnel will return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services.
Monday’s taking prudent precautions for the sake of the safety of US government personnel and US citizens comes after Blinken’s decision last week to temporarily relocate the embassy’s operations from Ukraine’s capital city to Lviv in western Ukraine and farther from Russia’s border.
Although many non-essential embassy staff had previously been ordered to leave Ukraine, key diplomats have remained in the country.
However, the tensions escalated on Monday after Russian President Putin recognized the independence of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic and sent peacekeeping troops.
Putin’s announcement prompted the White House to announce that President Biden will impose sanctions that would prohibit new US investment, trade, and financing from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
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