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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Photo: KAY NIETFELD / AFP
In view of the increasing tensions in the Ukraine conflict, according to media reports, the US State Department has ordered the families of diplomats in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to leave the country.
The reason for this is the "continued threat of a Russian military operation," the ministry said on Sunday.
Local employees of the US embassy may therefore "voluntarily" leave the country.
This move had been speculated for a few days.
In addition, other US citizens living in Ukraine are said to be "now considering" leaving Ukraine by commercial flights or other means of transport.
The US, meanwhile, has sent a second US arms shipment to Ukraine as part of a $200 million military aid package.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote on Twitter that more than 80 tons of weapons had arrived from the United States.
There had already been a delivery from the USA the day before.
On board were 90 tons of cargo, including ammunition for front-line defense.
Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks.
The West therefore fears a major Russian attack on the neighboring country.
Moscow denies any invasion plans.
Despite the tense situation, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin said it did not intend to withdraw personnel from Ukraine.
The security situation is being monitored "very closely," it said.
cop/AFP