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US pulls personnel out of Ukraine after Russia sends troops to breakaway regions
- US personnel sent to Poland for ‘security reasons’: Secretary of State Antony Blinken
- The move comes just over a week after the US relocated its embassy in Kyiv to Lviv
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The United States evacuated State Department personnel and embassy operations from Ukraine to Poland on Monday, amid fears that security conditions could deteriorate following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of two separatist regions in the eastern part of the country.
The US officials were expected to remain at a hotel just over the border with Poland, though they could return to Ukraine as soon as Tuesday if the State Department determines that the security situation has stabilised.
“For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
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The move comes just over a week after the US relocated its embassy in Kyiv to Lviv, citing the “dramatic acceleration” in the build-up of Russia’s forces on the border.
The move of the small contingent of American diplomats still in Ukraine comes after the US had already relocated its embassy from the capital of Kyiv to the western city of Lviv. President Joe Biden warned Friday that US intelligence indicated Russia could launch an assault on the capital city, and the State Department for weeks has encouraged American citizens to depart the country before an outbreak of hostilities.
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A White House spokesman declined to comment, while Russia has denied it intends to invade Ukraine. Earlier Monday, Putin announced he could deploy “peacekeeping” forces to the breakaway regions.
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Putin recognises 2 separatist regions in Ukraine, dulling hopes for US-Russia summit
Putin recognises 2 separatist regions in Ukraine, dulling hopes for US-Russia summit
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