Tensions continue to grow between Washington and Moscow.
So much so that the US State Department ordered the evacuation of the families of its diplomats stationed in Kiev on Sunday evening and advised against travel to Russia.
An order which comes as a consultation opens this Monday in Brussels with the European countries hitherto kept out of the Russian-American negotiations on Ukraine.
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The situation in Ukraine "is unpredictable and could deteriorate at any time", explained the US State Department, asking the families of diplomats to leave the country. Local staff and non-essential staff can leave the embassy if they wish, and US nationals residing in Ukraine "should now consider" leaving. “We believe that a Russian invasion (…) could happen at any moment,” a senior American official told reporters. "The United States would not be in a position to evacuate American citizens in this scenario."
Washington has also advised Americans not to travel to Russia, justifying this measure in particular by "the possibility of harassment of American citizens", in particular by the Russian police, or even "arbitrary application of local laws".
In Kiev, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense announced in a tweet the arrival of 80 tons of armaments “from our friends in the United States”.
"And it's not over," added Oleksii Reznikov.
“We are ready to respond with sanctions”
US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken will discuss Monday by videoconference with EU members in Brussels the "frank talks" he held on Friday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Russians and Americans have agreed on a new meeting, and Antony Blinken has pledged to "put ideas down on paper" in response to requests from Moscow.
Russia demands a written commitment on the non-enlargement of NATO to Ukraine and Georgia and demands a withdrawal of the forces and armaments of the Atlantic Alliance from the countries of Eastern Europe which have joined the NATO after 1997, notably from Romania and Bulgaria.
Unacceptable demands for Westerners.
VIDEO.
If Russia attacked Ukraine tomorrow, what would France's position be?
The security situation is considered worrying.
Moscow assures that it does not intend to intervene in Ukraine, but has massed more than 100,000 soldiers, tanks and artillery on the borders with Ukraine.
“We hope that an attack will not take place.
But if so, we are ready to respond with massive economic and financial sanctions,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.
Ministers are expected to reaffirm that position on Monday.
