Unpredictable Security Situation, US Embassy In Ukraine Urges Citizens To Consider Leaving Immediately

Kedutaan Besar AS di Kiev, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Kholodovsky)

JAKARTA - The United States Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine urged Americans in the country to consider leaving immediately, saying the security situation in the country is unpredictable due to the growing threat of Russian military action.

"The security situation in Ukraine could worsen with little notice", the embassy said on its website on Wednesday, citing Reuters January 27.

In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US Embassy in Kyiv would remain open. But he added that Americans in the former Soviet Union should "very much consider leaving."

Earlier this week, the United States urged its citizens not to travel to Ukraine.

The United States delivered a written reply on Wednesday to meet Russia's security demands, a key step in a fragile diplomatic process, as Russia holds new military exercises on land and sea near Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, though a rare move, could be seen as part of efforts by Washington and its allies to convince Moscow that any new aggression against Ukraine would be costly and fast.

In response, Russia warned on Wednesday that imposing sanctions on President Putin personally would not hurt him, but would be "politically damaging."

For information, Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine, but has denied that it plans to attack.

Meanwhile, the United States has spent weeks trying to build a deal with its European partners on a robust sanctions package if Russia strikes.