US orders diplomats’ families out of Kiev amid Russia invasion fears

Washington also authorised the ‘voluntary’ departure of embassy staff and urged US citizens in Ukraine to ‘consider departing now.’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses a press conference. Picture: AFP.

The United States has ordered the families of its diplomats in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to leave the country “due to the continued threat of Russian military action,” the State Department has announced.

Washington has also authorised the “voluntary” departure of its embassy employees and urged US citizens in Ukraine to “consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options.” The State Department announcement comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over European security and concerns over a possible invasion by Moscow of Ukraine.

The order comes hours after London accused Moscow of looking to install a Kremlin-friendly president in Kiev.

Liz Truss, the British Foreign Secretary, said on Saturday that MI6 intelligence suspected that Russian security agencies wanted to replace Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with Yevhen Murayev, a former Ukrainian MP. The unusual statement prompted an angry reaction from Moscow, and mockery from Mr Murayev who dismissed the claim as “more Mr Bean than James Bond”.

Western intelligence expects Russia to invade Ukraine within weeks. Picture: Getty Images.

The claims are adding to tensions between Russia and the West over European security, with a recent round of talks bringing little relief over a build-up of Russian troops around Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff, said the revelations were part and parcel of Russia’s approach towards Ukraine, and that Kiev would push back.

“Our state will continue its policy of dismantling any oligarchic or political structures that could be working to destabilise Ukraine” or “aid” Russia, he said in written comments to AFP.

Russia has been massing tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine, along with an arsenal of tanks, fighting vehicles, artillery and missiles.

The movements have ignited stern warnings from Washington and Europe — but so far intense diplomacy has yielded little results.

Earlier Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed the idea of slapping punitive sanctions on Moscow before any potential invasion, saying they should be used as a means of “dissuading” an attack.

“Once sanctions are triggered, you lose the deterrent effect,” Blinken told CBS. “So what we’re doing is putting together a whole series of actions that would figure into President (Vladimir) Putin’s calculus.” That includes beefing up defences in Ukraine with more military assistance, Blinken said.

AFP