The United States will resume its diplomatic operations in the capital of Ukraine roughly 11 weeks after Russia’s illegal invasion rocked the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed the American embassy in Kyiv would go back to its operations.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the people and government of Ukraine, and we look forward to carrying out our mission from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv,” Blinken said in a statement.
The State Department ordered the embassy to evacuate on Feb. 12, nearly 2 weeks prior to the dispute formally starting. American residents were recommended not to take a trip to the location and anybody in the nation was informed to instantly leave. The following day, all consular services were stopped at the embassy.
Operations were reduced and transferred to Lviv, a city in the western area of Ukraine. The Department decreased to define the number of individuals would stay at the satellite operation, per The Hill.
Embassy personnel were later evacuated from Lviv after combat between Ukrainian and Russian forces became too intense.
“Three months ago, we lowered our flag over the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, just days before Russian forces streamed across Ukraine’s border to carry out President Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified war of choice,” Blinken said in his announcement.
Blinken stated that regardless of the relocation, the U.S. continued to engage with and support “the Ukrainian people, government, and civil society as well as our allies and partners.”
“We underscored our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, pledged to continue our assistance, and started working toward the day we could return to Kyiv,” the secretary of state added. “We stand proudly with, and continue to support, the government and people of Ukraine as they defend their country from the Kremlin’s brutal war of aggression.”
Blinken acknowledged that the “war rages on” however make every effort to highlight American devotion to helping Ukraine.
Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and Senator Steve Daines of Montana prompted Blinken to resume the embassy at the end of April to “symbolically affirm” the federal government’s dedication to Ukraine.
“With Ukraine’s successful defense of Kyiv and Russia’s subsequent withdrawal of forces from the areas surrounding the capital, we encourage you to fully open the United States embassy without delay,” the senators wrote in a letter reported by Fox News. “America’s restored diplomatic presence in Kyiv will enhance cooperation with a democratic partner as it wages an existential defense and symbolically affirm our nation’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.”
A smaller group of American diplomats went back to the Kyiv embassy.
The embassy goes through extra precautions and security procedures to secure personnel.
H/T Timcast
