The US Embassy in Kiev will continue with its work despite recent instructions to families of American diplomats to leave Ukraine, a high-ranking official with the US Department of State said.
The US Department of State ordered earlier on Sunday families of American diplomats and some of its diplomatic staff in Ukraine’s Kiev to leave the country. “On January 23, 2022, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of US direct hire employees and ordered the departure of eligible family members from Embassy Kiev due to the continued threat of Russian military action,” the statement reads. “US citizens in Ukraine should consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options.”
The high-ranking official with US Department of State said later at a news briefing that the American diplomatic mission would carry on with its duties in Kiev and Kristina Kvien, Charge d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Ukraine, would remain in the country.
“The United States commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering,” the official told a news briefing. “The U.S. Embassy in Kiev continues to operate, and the Charg· d’Affaires, Kristina Kvien, remains in Ukraine.”
About travel recommendations
The US Department of State issued an updated list of travel recommendations for its citizens advising against trips to Russia due to an alleged rise of tensions on the country’s border with Ukraine, according to a statement.
“The Department of State reissued the Travel Advisory for Russia to include information regarding ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine,” the statement reads. “This replaces the previous Travel Advisory issued on November 2, 2021.”
The updated list of travel recommendations states in particular: “Do not travel to Russia due to ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens, the embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.”
The document from the US Department of State also says: “Due to Russia’s heightened military presence and ongoing military exercises along the border region with Ukraine, US citizens located in or considering travel to the districts of the Russian Federation immediately bordering Ukraine should be aware that the situation along the border is unpredictable and there is heightened tension.”
“Given the on-going volatility of the situation, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine through this region,” the statement continued. “In addition, there is the potential throughout Russia of harassment towards foreigners, including through regulations targeted specifically against foreigners.”
“The US government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to US citizens in Russia is already severely limited…,” the US Department of State announced adding that “the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Russia due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.”
About families of American diplomats
The US Department of State issued an updated list of travel recommendations for its citizens advising against trips to Russia due to an alleged rise of tensions on the country’s border with Ukraine.
“The Department of State reissued the Travel Advisory for Russia to include information regarding ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine,” the statement reads. “This replaces the previous Travel Advisory issued on November 2, 2021.”
The updated list of travel recommendations states in particular: “Do not travel to Russia due to ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens, the embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.”
The document from the US Department of State also says: “Due to Russia’s heightened military presence and ongoing military exercises along the border region with Ukraine, US citizens located in or considering travel to the districts of the Russian Federation immediately bordering Ukraine should be aware that the situation along the border is unpredictable and there is heightened tension.”
“Given the on-going volatility of the situation, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine through this region,” the statement continued. “In addition, there is the potential throughout Russia of harassment towards foreigners, including through regulations targeted specifically against foreigners.”
“The US government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to US citizens in Russia is already severely limited…,” the US Department of State official announced adding that “the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Russia due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.”
“These decisions were made out of an abundance of caution due to continued Russian efforts to destabilize the country and undermine the security of Ukrainian citizens and others visiting or residing in Ukraine,” according to the official.
She also said that the American diplomatic mission would carry on with its duties in Kiev and Kristina Kvien, Charge d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Ukraine, would remain in the country.
“The United States commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering,” the official told a news briefing. “The U.S. Embassy in Kiev continues to operate, and the Charg· d’Affaires, Kristina Kvien, remains in Ukraine.”
The press service of the US Embassy in Ukraine reported on January 22 that a shipment of military cargo, including ammunition, weighing over 90 tonnes arrived in Ukraine. The embassy noted that last year, the US provided more than $650 million worth of military aid to Ukraine since 2014, while the country received $2.7 billion for these purposes.
Last Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba confirmed information by Western media outlets that Kiev would receive $200 million worth of military aid from Washington. He noted that the country received a total sum of $650 million for these purposes from the United States last year.
Western and Ukrainian media outlets recently echoed claims about Russia’s alleged aggression against Ukraine. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier slammed such statements as “empty and groundless” saying that their goal was to whip up tensions.
