Following the decision by the US to order the return of the diplomat families of the American Embassy in Kyiv pointing to a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called it excessive caution as, according to it, the security situation has not worsened.
On Monday, January 24, the US Embassy in Ukraine announced on its web site that the US Department of State had «authorized the voluntary departure («authorized departure») of U.S. government employees and ordered the departure of family members («ordered departure») of U.S. government employees at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, effective immediately».
The diplomatic representation stated it would remain open for regular operations and would keep working toward «a diplomatic solution to Russia’s deeply troubling build-up of forces in and around Ukraine».
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The UK announced a similar move reducing its embassy staff by half.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied that the troops amassed near its border with Ukraine are intended for invading its neighbour.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that the troop amassing has taken place for some time now. «While respecting the right of foreign nations to decide on safety and security of their diplomatic missions, we consider that this step by the U.S. is premature and stems from excessive caution», it was stated on its web site. Ukrainian diplomats evaluated that «there were no radical changes in the security situation lately: the threat of new waves of Russian aggression remains present since 2014, and Russia’s build-up of the military capacity along Ukraine’s borders started last April».
Ukraine considers US diplomat family return call rightful, but excessive caution
