US, Russia lead exodus even as Biden-Putin talks aim to defuse crisis
Both the United States and Russia have ordered the pullout of some of their diplomatic staff in Kyiv, adding to the ominous tone after Washington warned that Moscow could invade Ukraine in days.
US President Joe Biden prepared to sound out Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Saturday [Sunday, Manila time] aimed at defusing one of the gravest crises in East-West relations since the Cold War as Ukraine urged its citizens not to panic amid warnings that an all-out invasion could begin “any day.”
Putin began his Saturday afternoon by holding talks with France’s Emmanuel Macron that the French presidency said lasted 100 minutes.
No details were immediately released but the French leader has spearheaded EU efforts to ease fears of a major war breaking out in eastern Europe.
Weeks of tensions that have seen Russia surround its western neighbor with more than 100,000 troops intensified when the Kremlin launched its biggest naval drills in years across the Black Sea.
On Saturday, the US ordered all non-emergency Kyiv embassy staff to leave a day after telling US citizens to depart Ukraine within 48 hours.
Pentagon also announced that Washington is withdrawing nearly all of its remaining soldiers from Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “has ordered the temporary repositioning of the 160 members of the Florida National Guard,” who were in the country “advising and mentoring Ukrainian forces,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
Russia, for its part, said it has pulled some of its diplomatic staff out of Ukraine for fear of “provocations” from Kyiv or its allies.
“Fearing possible provocations from the Kyiv regime or other countries we have indeed decided to optimize staffing at Russian missions in Ukraine,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a press release.
Germany on Saturday also asked its nationals whose presence in Ukraine was not “imperative” to leave, saying a “military conflict cannot be excluded” as tensions mount.
“Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have again shot up in the last few days due to the massive movements of Russian military units near the Ukrainian border,” the German foreign ministry said.
“If you are currently in Ukraine, make sure that your presence is imperative. If that is not the case, please leave the country for the time being.”
Belgium and the Netherlands have also advised their citizens to leave Ukraine.
The US State Department has “ordered the departure of most US direct hire employees from Embassy Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action,” it said in an updated travel advisory.
“The Department of State will suspend consular services at the US Embassy in Kyiv,” it said, adding that a small consular presence would be maintained in Lviv in western Ukraine to handle emergencies.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday that diplomatic channels remained “open” to avoid conflict in Ukraine but would require Moscow to “deescalate.”
A Russian invasion of Ukraine “would result in a resolute, massive, and united Transatlantic response,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
During a call between Washington and Moscow’s top diplomats, “the secretary made clear that a diplomatic path to resolving the crisis remained open, but it would require Moscow to de-escalate and engage in good-faith discussions,” Price said.
According to Russia, Lavrov accused the United States during the call of seeking to provoke conflict in Ukraine.
“The propaganda campaign unleashed by the United States and its allies concerning ‘Russian aggression’ against Ukraine pursues provocative goals,” Lavrov said, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Some US media suggested the invasion could begin shortly after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concludes talks with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.
Kyiv has been trying to tone down the warnings coming out of Washington throughout the crisis.
The Ukrainian government fears the US statements are hurting public morale and damaging the country’s struggling economy by crimping business activity.
“The armed forces of Ukraine are constantly monitoring the situation and are ready to rebuff any encroachment on its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the foreign ministry said.
“Ukrainian diplomats are in constant contact with all its key partners, swiftly receiving the information needed to prepare a well-timed response.”