UK urges its citizens to ‘get out now’ of Ukraine

UK Government urged British citizens this Friday in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible, while there are still “commercial” means available to do so.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel recommendations page to warn against any displacement towards Ukraine and stress that the British in that country must “get out now”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed in a virtual meeting with other world leaders thate “fears for the security of Europe under the current circumstances,” Downing Street, his official office, said in a statement.

The British head of government participated in the meeting to address the situation in Ukraine with leaders from the United States, Italy, Poland, Romania, France, Germany, the European Council, the European Commission and NATO.

In that forum, he stressed the need for the Western allies to make it “absolutely clear” that there will be a package of harsh economic sanctions “prepared” if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, a step that for the United Kingdom would be a “devastating and destructive” decision.

The US asks its citizens to leave Ukraine in the face of imminent Russian invasion, but the country calls the decision exaggerated

The leaders agreed to “redouble diplomatic efforts in the coming days” and they consider that there is a negotiated way out of the crisis if the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, agrees to “de-escalate” the tension.

Putin “must understand that there would be severe sanctions and that they would be extremely damaging to the Russian economy”, insisted before the rest of the leaders Johnson, who urged allies to continue to reinforce the eastern flank of NATO territory and provide “defensive” support to Kiev.

NATO reinforces its troop contingents in Estonia and Lithuania

The Foreign Office detailed for his part that the British Embassy in Ukraine remains open, but has stopped providing face-to-face consular assistance. (I)