Ukraine Crisis: United States Relocates Embassy from Kyiv to Lviv
Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, announced on Monday, February 15, that due to the rapid increase in Russian military forces along the Ukraine border, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv will be relocated to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine.
This move comes as U.S. officials have warned that Moscow continues to add to its military forces near the Ukrainian border, and a Russian attack on its neighboring country could happen at any moment. Moscow, however, has rejected accusations of planning an attack on Ukraine despite deploying more than 100,000 troops to border regions.
Ned Price, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said at a press briefing: “An attack on Ukraine could involve widespread violence and destruction, and death makes no distinction between Americans, Ukrainians, or others.”
Blinken also stated in his statement that the decision to relocate embassy services to Lviv, approximately 80 kilometers from Ukraine’s western border with Poland, was made with consideration for the safety of embassy staff.
Most U.S. embassy personnel have been ordered to leave Ukraine, and American citizens have been advised to leave the country by any available means.
Antony Blinken emphasized that relocating the embassy operations “in no way” violates U.S. support for Ukraine’s right to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Ukrainian diplomats will continue to remain in contact with the Ukrainian government.
He added that the United States will continue to pressure Moscow to pursue a diplomatic solution.
However, Ned Price told reporters that “it is unclear to us whether Russia is interested in pursuing a diplomatic path or not.”
Referring to remarks made by Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, stating that Moscow will continue its diplomatic efforts to obtain security guarantees from the West, he said Washington is aware of these remarks and is taking them into consideration.
Price added: “What we have not yet seen is the slightest sign of de-escalation by Russian forces.”
Among the security guarantees Russia has sought from the West is Ukraine’s non-membership in NATO. However, Ukrainian officials have rejected this demand.
Source: Radio Farda
