The announcement came after the US issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible, adding Russia could invade Ukraine any day now.
The United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kiev as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.
US officials said the State Department plans to announce early on Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kiev embassy will be required to leave ahead of a feared Russian invasion.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a small number of US diplomats may be relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, so the US could retain a diplomatic presence in the country.
The State Department had earlier ordered families of US embassy staffers in Kiev to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart.
This comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he would speak to Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Saturday in a last-ditch attempt to head off a possible invasion.
“We continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving around Ukraine’s borders,” Blinken said in a press conference in Fiji.
The top US diplomat reiterated that Washington and its allies will “swiftly” impose punishing sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, which he said could now start “at any time”.
READ MORE: US intensifies diplomatic phone calls amid fears of Russian Ukraine attack
Biden to speak with Putin
US President Joe Biden will also speak to Vladimir Putin on Saturday, according to a US official.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan dramatically raised the alarm over Ukraine on Friday, saying a Russian invasion starting with civilians caught under aerial bombing could begin in days.
He told US citizens to leave within 48 hours.
The Pentagon also announced on Friday it is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there.
Their mission will be to train and provide deterrence but not to engage in combat in Ukraine.
In addition to the US troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 US soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.
Also, 300 soldiers of an 18th Airborne Corps headquarters unit have arrived in Germany, commanded by Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla.
The American troops are to train with host-nation forces but not enter Ukraine for any purpose.
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Biden: US citizens should leave Ukraine immediately
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
US plans to evacuate Ukraine embassy amid Russian invasion fears
Source: Pinay Pop Showbiz
