Admin l Monday, January 24, 2022
KYIV, Ukraine – The United States has authorised voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. Government employees from its embassy in Kyiv over continued Russian aggression in the region, Senior officials of the Department of State have said.
Russia has amassed upwards of 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, fueling speculation about imminent invasion of Ukraine. The department has also ordered the departure of family members of U.S. Government employees at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
The authorized departure gives these employees the option to depart if they wish. However, the authorized and ordered departure status will be reviewed in no later than 30 days”, the US officials said.
According to the officials, U.S. citizens in Ukraine should be aware, for their planning purposes, that Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine would severely impact the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide consular services, including assistance to U.S. citizens in departing Ukraine.
“Our Travel Advisory update asks all U.S. citizens in Ukraine to complete an online form so that we may better communicate with them. This is especially important if they plan to remain in Ukraine. That form is available on travel.state.gov and on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv”, they said, adding that those leaving are to consider using commercial or other privately available transportation options; “two, use the online form in our updated Travel Advisory to tell us their plans, so that we can best conduct our ongoing contingency planning; and three, register in STEP to ensure you receive alerts and guidance from the State Department”.
The officials also warned US citizens not to travel to Ukraine due to the increased threat of Russian military action but that the United States commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.
“The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continues to operate, and the Chargé d’Affaires, Kristina Kvien, remains in Ukraine. In addition to our diplomatic coordination, we are assisting Ukraine with new lethal defensive security assistance, including ammunition for the frontline defenders of Ukraine.
“The first of several shipments for Ukrainian armed forces, totaling $200 million, arrived in Kyiv on January 22nd, yesterday, and more will arrive in weeks to come. With this new authorization, the United States has committed more than $650 million of security assistance to Ukraine in the past year and more than $2.7 billion in total U.S. security assistance to Ukraine since 2014.
“As President Biden told President Putin, should Russia further invade Ukraine, the consequences will be severe, and the United States will provide additional defensive material to Ukraine above and beyond that already provided”, they said.
With regard to Russia, the officials said the US has made it clear that there are two paths, dialogue and diplomacy or escalation and massive consequences.
“Over the past weeks, you’ve seen us make intense and sustained efforts to pursue diplomacy. But while we continue to pursue peace, we must be clear-eyed about the reality if Russia chooses escalation: it will face massive consequences”, the Senior officials of the Department of State said.
