The remaining US embassy personnel will leave Kiev and settle in Lviv, in western Ukraine, about 70 kilometers from the Polish border. This was announced by US Secretary of State Blinken today. According to Blinken, there is a “dramatic acceleration of the Russian troop build-up”.
Much of the US embassy staff has already left the country, with only essential personnel remaining in Ukraine. America is seriously considering that Russia will invade Ukraine one of these days. According to the US, the move will not affect relations with Ukraine.
From Lviv, Americans will keep in touch with Ukrainian government, says Blinken in a statement: “These sensible precautions in no way undermine our support for Ukraine. Our commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity is unerring.”
Day of Unity
Ukrainian President Zelensky is much less convinced of an imminent invasion of his country. In a speech, he spoke jokingly about February 16, next Wednesday, when Russia, according to US intelligence, is planning to start a ground invasion. Zelensky believes that the US is adding fuel to the fire by stating firmly that an invasion is near.
In an ironic response, he said he would declare Wednesday a “day of unity” in the country: “We hang national flags, wear blue-and-yellow ribbons and show the world our unity.”
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