The United States is temporarily moving its embassy in Ukraine from Kiev to Lviv, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters.
“In view of the significant build-up of Russian forces (near the border with Ukraine), we are temporarily moving our embassy in Ukraine from Kiev to Lvov,” he said (quoted by RIA Novosti). According to him, the US diplomatic mission “will continue to maintain contacts with the government of Ukraine.”
On Saturday, February 12, the US State Department announced a reduction in the staff of its embassy in Kiev for security reasons, including by transferring a number of diplomats to Lviv. On the same day, Germany temporarily moved its Consulate General to Lviv. More than 30 countries have already called on their citizens to leave Ukraine or cancel planned trips to the country, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Israel, Japan and South Korea. Russia also decided to optimize the staff of its foreign missions in Ukraine, citing the threat of a possible provocation from Ukraine or “third forces.”
Last autumn, the Western media began to publish materials about Russia’s military buildup near the Ukrainian borders and about plans to invade Ukraine. In response to such publications, Moscow has repeatedly stated that they are conducting exercises and moving troops only on their own territory at their own discretion. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Kremlin, emphasized that the very idea of a war with Ukraine is unacceptable and Moscow is not going to attack anyone.