‘It Would Be Wise” For US Citizens To Leave Ukraine Advises President Biden

In a recent address, US president Joe Biden advised all US citizens, aside from essential diplomats and US officials, to leave Ukraine and go home, as tensions of war with Russia continue to escalate in the region. This comes after a continued show of aggressive military manoeuvring and mobilisation by Russian troops at Ukraine’s border over the past weeks.

Biden’s advisal was made during a joint press conference at the Whitehouse, held shortly after he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to discuss and address the seemingly impending crisis.

Non-essential employees of the State Department have also been authorised to leave, as well as all family members of diplomats. Staying on would be a gamble, and not one like you’d enjoy when playing the tragamonedas Peru offers.

At the joint-conference, Biden also went on to announced that Russia will no longer have access to “Nord Stream 2”, a crucial natural gas pipe-line running from Germany to Russia, should they choose to invade.

In Moscow, international diplomatic efforts and negotiations, including those made by French President Emmanuel Macron have thus far born little fruit. Though President Putin continues to maintain that Russia does not intend to invade Ukraine, his assurances have been plainly contradicted by his actions and those of his military. In particular, the massing of over 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s eastern border has been seem by most as a clear sign of an impending ground assault.

Jake Sullivan, national security advisor to the White House, has warned that an invasion could happen imminently, and that the conflict it will trigger as a result will likely come at an “enormous human cost”.

Though Russia denies intentions of attacking Ukraine, it has nonetheless been pushing hard on demands for the US and its allies to bar the country from joining the NATO security alliance, and to halt all deployments of weapons and NATO forces in the area. Washington and NATO have steadfastly rejected these demands.

Just before his meeting with Chancellor Scholz though, Biden stated that the US and Germany are currently working on other plans to further deter Russia’s aggressive movements in Europe.

Scholz confirmed this in his own words at the joint press conference, as well as reaffirming a close alliance and partnership with Germany and the US in order combat further aggression from Russia against Ukraine.

French president Emmanuel Macron, has meanwhile called for de-escalation of sanctions or military response in favour of diplomatic talks, believing that maintaining dialogue is crucial. Although Putin and his military have thus far shown no sign of backing off, Putin has, however, stated that he appreciates France and Macron’s efforts in shaping “an equal security for Europe” and to broker a settlement in the Ukraine dispute.

The US and German governments, as well as the UK, however, have made it all too clear that they will not submit to Russia’s demands, regarding Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO, or back down in their support in the countries defence. Hopes are currently that, by simply bolstering NATO defences in the region, it will be enough to dissuade Russia from entering into war. Otherwise, a set of heavy sanctions all-round are being made ready to put in place.