WASHINGTON: Russia could invade Ukraine any time now, including during the ongoing Beijing Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, joining President Biden’s warning to Americans to leave the country immediately.
Advise from the President and his top diplomatic official came with a Level 4 advisory from the State Department warning Americans not to travel to Ukraine “due to the increased threats of Russian military action.” Those in Ukraine “should depart now via commercial or private means,” the advisory warned, cautioning those remaining in Ukraine to exercise increased caution “due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action.”
“As we’ve said before, we’re in a window when an invasion could begin at any time- and to be clear that includes during the Olympics,” Blinken said in Melbourne following a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, even as the White House convened a meeting of Cabinet members and senior national security officials in the Situation Room to discuss Russia’s ongoing military buildup near Ukraine.
In Washington, Biden sounded the alarm in an NBC interview, telling American citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, and warning, “It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”
There are an estimated 30,000 Americans in Ukraine. Keeping in mind the chaotic exit from Afghanistan, the White House is reported to have approved a Pentagon plan for US troops in Poland to help evacuate fleeing Americans if Russia attacks.
Neither Biden nor Blinken delved into the reasons for alarming call to evacuate. Blinken said Washington continues to see “very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border.”
“We are in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. And to be clear, that includes during the Olympics. We’re continuing to draw down our embassy. And we’ve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now,” he said.
Blinken’s alarm did not appear to seize his counterparts from Australia, Japan, and India- all countries with fewer nationals in Ukraine- although the first two did express concern about the overall situation.
The Quad ministers’ joint statement avoided any mention of Ukraine, but featured prominently in the post-meeting press conference, with Blinken teeing off by asserting that “one of the reasons we’re working so intensively to defend the core principles threatened by Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine is because those very same principles are crucial to enduring stability in this region and every other part of the world.”
He found strong support from Australian foreign minister Marise Payne, who reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its support for allies and partners “to deter this sort of (Russian) aggression, and to raise the costs of this kind of behavior.” Japanese foreign minister Hayashi too expressed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India’s external affairs minister S.Jaishankar though skirted mentioning Ukraine or Russia explicitly, saying, “we are for something, not against somebody.”
Advise from the President and his top diplomatic official came with a Level 4 advisory from the State Department warning Americans not to travel to Ukraine “due to the increased threats of Russian military action.” Those in Ukraine “should depart now via commercial or private means,” the advisory warned, cautioning those remaining in Ukraine to exercise increased caution “due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action.”
“As we’ve said before, we’re in a window when an invasion could begin at any time- and to be clear that includes during the Olympics,” Blinken said in Melbourne following a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, even as the White House convened a meeting of Cabinet members and senior national security officials in the Situation Room to discuss Russia’s ongoing military buildup near Ukraine.
In Washington, Biden sounded the alarm in an NBC interview, telling American citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, and warning, “It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”
There are an estimated 30,000 Americans in Ukraine. Keeping in mind the chaotic exit from Afghanistan, the White House is reported to have approved a Pentagon plan for US troops in Poland to help evacuate fleeing Americans if Russia attacks.
Neither Biden nor Blinken delved into the reasons for alarming call to evacuate. Blinken said Washington continues to see “very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border.”
“We are in a window when an invasion could begin at any time. And to be clear, that includes during the Olympics. We’re continuing to draw down our embassy. And we’ve also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now,” he said.
Blinken’s alarm did not appear to seize his counterparts from Australia, Japan, and India- all countries with fewer nationals in Ukraine- although the first two did express concern about the overall situation.
The Quad ministers’ joint statement avoided any mention of Ukraine, but featured prominently in the post-meeting press conference, with Blinken teeing off by asserting that “one of the reasons we’re working so intensively to defend the core principles threatened by Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine is because those very same principles are crucial to enduring stability in this region and every other part of the world.”
He found strong support from Australian foreign minister Marise Payne, who reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its support for allies and partners “to deter this sort of (Russian) aggression, and to raise the costs of this kind of behavior.” Japanese foreign minister Hayashi too expressed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India’s external affairs minister S.Jaishankar though skirted mentioning Ukraine or Russia explicitly, saying, “we are for something, not against somebody.”