The Biden administration has given diplomats the green light to leave Ukraine early.
< p>The US Department of State on January 23 updated travel tips for Ukraine. As noted in the message, the update concerns «the work of the US Embassy and the level of threat due to Russian aggression», reports the Chronicle.info with reference to Channel 24.
Ukraine has previously been at threat level 4 according to the US classification. That is, the White House does not recommend American citizens to travel to our country(«do not travel»).
However, on January 23, President Biden's administration gave the green light diplomats regarding early exit from Ukraine.
US diplomats can now «voluntarily leave» from Ukraine
Ukraine on the official portal of embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions of the United States of America is designated as a country 4 levels of danger. Simply put, the White House is saying «Don't travel there».
The reasons given are:
- Increasing Russian military threat actions.
- Bad situation with COVID-19.
- Crime and unrest.
This information was known before, but since January 23 White House significantly updated recommendations — in particular, on its diplomats:
On January 23, 2022, the State Department authorized the voluntary departure of US staff members and ordered their family members to leave the embassy in Kiev.
There is one reason — the threat of Russian military action:
There is information that Russia is planning significant hostilities against Ukraine. Security conditions are unpredictable and could worsen without much notice.
The US Embassy in Ukraine explained that:
- «Authorized departure» allows embassy staff to leave if they wish (this is not required).
- But «mandatory departure» for their family members, this is a requirement to leave Ukraine.
The US authorities also have comments about other American citizens:
US citizens in Ukraine should consider leaving now , using commercial or other private transport.
Please note: On January 22, the media reported that the US State Department ordered the evacuation of the families of its diplomats from Ukraine. However, this message was denied by the department itself. As you can see, not for long.
Subsequently, the State Department clarified that the US Embassy in Ukraine would continue to work. And they say, the decision to leave some diplomats does not indicate that the White House considers the escalation in Ukraine inevitable.
At the same time:
- On the evening of January 23, the second batch of lethal weapons from the United States arrived in Ukraine.
- But US Secretary of State Blinken said that Washington would not impose preventive sanctions against Russia.