US State Department Orders Withdrawal of Families of Ukraine Embassy Staff (Comprehensive)

"Biden Likely to Announce Increase of Troops Stationed in Eastern Europe"

The exterior of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. On the 23rd (local time), the U.S. Department of State issued a statement saying, "As the threat of Russian military action continues, the U.S. government is allowing voluntary departure for personnel directly employed by the government and has ordered the families of embassy staff in Kyiv to leave." It also added that all Americans in Ukraine are advised to leave the country. Kyiv (Ukraine) = EPA Yonhap News Photo by EPA

[Asia Economy Reporters Byunghee Park and Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. government has issued a withdrawal order for the families of U.S. Embassy staff in Ukraine, leading to analyses that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is imminent. Reports have also emerged that U.S. President Joe Biden is considering deploying thousands of troops, warships, and fighter jets to NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. There are concerns that if Russia actually invades Ukraine, the world could plunge into uncontrollable chaos.

On the 23rd (local time), the U.S. State Department issued a statement ordering the families of U.S. Embassy staff in Ukraine to withdraw and allowing non-essential personnel to leave Ukraine voluntarily.

The State Department stated, "Due to the ongoing threat of Russian military action, effective from the 23rd, the U.S. government is permitting voluntary departure for personnel directly employed by the government and ordering the families of embassy staff located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to depart." Additionally, all Americans in Ukraine were advised to leave the country. The State Department mentioned in the statement that there are reports indicating Russia is planning a significant military operation targeting Ukraine.

On the same day, The New York Times (NYT), citing U.S. government officials, reported that as the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine increases, the U.S. government may expand its military presence. Currently, 4,000 U.S. troops and 1,000 NATO troops are stationed in Poland, and 4,000 NATO troops are deployed in countries around the Baltic Sea. The NYT cited officials saying that Russia has stationed 100,000 troops at the border and that the U.S. government could increase its local forces tenfold. It also added that President Biden is expected to make a decision on this matter this week.

The NYT explained that this move signals a shift in the Biden administration’s core approach to responding to Ukraine. It is also known that the three Baltic states?Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania?have sent anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO member countries are escalating tensions in Ukraine with false information.