PARIS (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 to all French nationals whose stay in Ukraine has no compelling reason to leave the country”, writes the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on his website, in his travel advice.
The French people living in the areas of Kharkiv, Louhansk and Donetsk are particularly concerned by the minister’s latest recommendations, it is specified.
Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s borders but denies any plans for an invasion.
A Ukrainian soldier was killed on Saturday in a bombardment carried out by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian army announced, while the rebels called for general mobilization.
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.
(Edited by Claude Chendjou)