A passenger plane in the sky. File photoWASHINGTON, Feb 12 Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly urged fellow citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, citing the tense situation.
"While we continue to work closely with our partners and monitor the situation, I urge all Canadians in Ukraine to take the necessary measures and leave the country now", she said in a statement.
She recalled that since February 1, Canadian authorities have been urging fellow citizens to avoid any travel to Ukraine due to «continued Russian threats and risks of armed conflict.» Joly added that Canadian diplomats remain in place and are ready to provide consular assistance to compatriots. «However, our capabilities in this area may be seriously limited,» she added. Recently, they have been expressing concern over the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» by Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that statements The West about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it is both ridiculous and dangerous. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not bother anyone. media