The Government of the United Kingdom has ordered this Monday the return of part of the officials and staff of its embassy in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The British Foreign Department has attributed its decision, in a brief statement, “to the growing threat from Russia.” London uses one of lime and one of sand in the escalation of tension in recent hours, and ensures in the same text that “the British embassy will remain open and continue to carry out its essential tasks.” Sources from the British Executive have assured various media that practically half of the diplomatic personnel had already scheduled their return, and that there are currently no specific threats against United Kingdom officials.
The measure adopted by the Johnson Government follows in the footsteps of the US Administration of Joe Biden. Washington on Sunday ordered all relatives of its embassy staff in Kiev, as well as non-essential workers, to leave Ukraine as soon as possible, due to the threat of “serious military action” against the country by Russia.
The European Union, for the time being, will maintain its diplomatic staff in the Ukrainian capital, as reported on Monday by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, reports Efe.
London burst into the Ukraine crisis late on Saturday with a statement containing serious accusations against Moscow. He accused the Kremlin of already maneuvering to install a puppet government in the country. “We have information indicating that the Russian government is seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev, while an invasion is being considered to occupy Ukraine,” the British Foreign Office said. “The former Ukrainian deputy, Yevhen Murayev, is being considered as a potential candidate,” said the statement, which not only pointed directly to Murayev, but also presented a list of politicians from that country who, always according to the UK Foreign Office , “would maintain links with the Russian intelligence services.”
Russia accused the United Kingdom of misinformation and rejected that it intends to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev. Under the title misinformation circulating, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a message on Twitter early Sunday morning to accuse “Anglo-Saxon nations” of “intensifying tensions” over Ukraine. “We urge the Foreign Office to stop spreading nonsense,” concluded the brief message from the department led by Sergey Lavrov.
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