Diplomats stay in Kiev
Berlin and Washington deny withdrawal plans
01/22/2022 at 9:14 p.m
Ukraine has feared a Russian attack for weeks. However, the US State Department and the Foreign Office in Berlin have denied media reports that they are preparing to evacuate their own embassy staff. However, there are travel warnings.
The US government has not yet confirmed reports of plans to fly out US embassy staff members in Kiev. “We have nothing to announce at this time,” said a State Department spokeswoman in Washington. “We are thoroughly developing our plans to face any eventuality that the situation worsens,” she added. Earlier, US television channel Fox News reported that the State Department had ordered the families of US diplomatic personnel in Kiev to begin leaving the country.
Meanwhile, the “Bild” reported that the Foreign Office in Berlin was working on an evacuation plan for the relatives of the German embassy employees in Ukraine. They should be taken out of the country if the situation deteriorates further. The Federal Foreign Office said: “We are very closely monitoring the security situation for the staff at our diplomatic missions in Ukraine, and we are also in close contact with our partners in the EU and at international level.” At the moment, however, “the Federal Foreign Office has not taken any measures to reduce the number of embassy staff or family members”.
“Do not expect US government evacuation flights”
At the same time, these instructions should not be taken as an all-clear for travelers: The US State Department spokeswoman said about US citizens in Ukraine who are not part of the diplomatic staff or their families, they should not be involved in a US evacuation mission if the situation worsens -Government count. “Currently, commercial flights are available to support exits,” she added.
The State Department had advised against travel to Ukraine even before tensions between Ukraine and Russia intensified due to the corona pandemic. A US State Department website also advises reconsidering trips there “because of the increased threat from Russia.” The British Foreign Office warned against travel to the pro-Russian Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and to the annexed Crimea peninsula. Travel to the rest of Ukraine is therefore not recommended unless it is urgently necessary.
Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks. The West therefore fears a major Russian attack on the neighboring country. Moscow denies any invasion plans.