US hopes to return diplomats to Kyiv by end of month

By: 3 years ago

Kyiv pulls down Soviet-era monument symbolizing Russian-Ukrainian friendship

A Soviet monument to a friendship between Ukrainian and Russian nations is seen during its demolition, amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, in central Kyiv, Ukraine April 26, 2022. REUTERS

尝痴滨痴鈥�The US hopes its diplomats will be able to return to Ukraine鈥檚 capital Kyiv, where Washington closed its embassy days before the Russian invasion, 鈥渂y the end of the month鈥�, embassy charge d鈥檃ffaires Kristina Kvien said Monday.

鈥淲e very much hope that conditions will permit us to go back to Kyiv by the end of the month,鈥� Kvien said at a press conference in the western city of Lviv.

The US closed its embassy in Kyiv on February 14, ten days before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, and moved its diplomats westwards.

Kvien said she and her staff were 鈥渨orking day and night in Poland鈥� to 鈥渉elp Ukraine win this war.鈥�

She was in Ukraine on a 鈥渄ay trip鈥� and said US diplomats will 鈥渃ontinue to do day trips for the next week or two鈥� to Ukraine.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to be back. And we will continue our efforts to do everything possible here on the ground to help Ukraine win this war鈥�.

The US diplomat said her 鈥渘umber one priority is the safety and security of my staff.鈥�

鈥淲e listen to the security professionals. If they tell us to go back, we鈥檒l go back鈥� to Kyiv.

Western countries are gradually moving to reinstate a diplomatic presence in Kyiv, where Ukrainian forces have rebuffed a Russian offensive.

Speaking next to the mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadoviy, Kvien said that, nine weeks into the war, it was clear Russian President Vladimir Putin had 鈥渕ade a miscalculation鈥� in Ukraine.

The announcement came after the Joe Biden had proposed a huge $33 billion aid package to Ukraine and after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.

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