PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) – France on Saturday called on its nationals to leave Ukraine amid rising tensions between Ukrainian government forces and Moscow-backed separatists as Westerners fear an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine .
“It is also recommended that all French nationals whose stay in Ukraine has no compelling reason to leave the country”, writes the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website, in its travel advice.
The French in the areas of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk are particularly concerned by the latest recommendations of the ministry, it is specified.
Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s borders but denies any plans for an invasion.
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A Ukrainian soldier was killed Saturday in a bombardment carried out by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian army announced, while the rebels called for general mobilization. nL8N2UU0A8
Despite the tensions on the ground, diplomatic negotiations continue. The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak by phone on Sunday with Emmanuel Macron, the Tass news agency reported.
(Written by Claude Chendjou)