JAKARTA - The United States and Western countries and their allies have asked their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately to avoid a possible attack by Russia. Australia and New Zealand added to the list of countries asking their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.
Previously, similar appeals had been issued by the UK, Japan, Latvia, Norway and the Netherlands to their nationals. Israel said it was evacuating the families of embassy staff members.
The US and Europe are raising warnings that a possible attack from Russia is imminent.
The Russian government accuses Western countries of spreading lies to cover up their own aggressive actions. Russia has long denied any plans to invade Ukraine, although it has deployed more than 100,000 troops on its border with the country.
US officials say Russia is likely to strike before the Winter Olympics conclude on February 20.
According to them, Russia may also occupy the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and other cities.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said American citizens could not expect the military to assist with evacuations if they were still in Ukraine. Sullivan urged US citizens to leave Ukraine within 48 hours.
"We continue to see signs of increasing Russian movement, including new troops arriving at the border with Ukraine," Sullivan told reporters.
"An invasion can happen at any time," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, February 12.
After Sullivan spoke to reporters at the White House, Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy issued a counter statement.
"Our troops remain in our territory and I wonder if the US itself will invade Ukraine -- someone will, once such a panic has been raised."
The United States, meanwhile, will send another 3,000 troops to Poland in the coming days to support its NATO allies, four US officials told Reuters.
This number will add to the 8,500 US troops already on standby to deploy to Europe if needed.
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