Secretary of State Antony Blinken attributed the change in posture to “the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces” massed along Ukraine’s borders, which U.S. officials estimate to be roughly 100,000 troops. | Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday announced the State Department had begun temporarily relocating the operations of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine from the capital of Kyiv to the city of Lviv in the western part of the country.
In a statement, Blinken attributed the change in posture to “the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces” massed along Ukraine’s borders, which U.S. officials estimate to be roughly 100,000 troops.
“The Embassy will remain engaged with the Ukrainian government, coordinating diplomatic engagement in Ukraine,” Blinken said. “We are also continuing our intensive diplomatic efforts to deescalate the crisis.”
The State Department’s announcement comes amid increasingly dire rhetoric from U.S. officials about the potential for an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as fears of Russian troops potentially encircling Kyiv or toppling the seat of government.