FRANCE RECOMMENDS STRONGLY TO THEIR CITIZEN TO DEPART UKRAINE IMMEDIATELY

USPA NEWS - Today, France recommends strongly to their citizens to depart Ukraine immediately and Russia, as the tensions are gearing up in Ukraine, since the Russian President Putin announced recognition of Donbass territories in Eastern Ukraine, and deploying military forces there to « maintain peace ». In the context of the intense tensions created by the concentration of Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine, by the Russian decision to recognize the independence of the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk and in view of the establishment of the state of urgency decided today by the Ukrainian Parliament, French nationals in Ukraine must leave this country without delay. It is also not recommended to travel to Ukraine until further notice. Any travel to the border areas in the north and east of the country is strictly discouraged. Source: French Ministry for Foreign Affairs. According to the US. State of Department « The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice.  There is a strong likelihood that any Russian military operations would severely restrict commercial air travel. 

Today, France recommends strongly to their citizens to depart Ukraine immediately and Russia, as the tensions are gearing up in Ukraine, since the Russian President Putin announced recognition of Donbass territories in Eastern Ukraine, and deploying military forces there to « maintain peace ». In the context of the intense tensions created by the concentration of Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine, by the Russian decision to recognize the independence of the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk and in view of the establishment of the state of urgency decided today by the Ukrainian Parliament, French nationals in Ukraine must leave this country without delay. It is also not recommended to travel to Ukraine until further notice. Any travel to the border areas in the north and east of the country is strictly discouraged. Source: French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.----------------------------------------------------------- According to the US. State of Department « The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice.  There is a strong likelihood that any Russian military operations would severely restrict commercial air travel.  Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment.  There have been reports of increased ceasefire violations in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk in recent days.  And Russia has ordered troops to deploy into the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. » Today U.S Secretary Antony Blinken, at 1:10 pm said that “Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine,” as he answered Lester Holt on NBC…Sec Blinken also believes there is “still an opportunity to avert a major aggression” against Ukraine. He added that  “If Russia continues to escalate, so will we.” An extraordinary summit will take place on February 24 in Brussels, bringing together the 27 leaders, and where President Macron will be present, knowing that France is presiding over the Council of Europe for 6 months. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, has just addressed the nation. And to say that he tried to call Putin on the phone this evening, which did not pick up. He also appealed -- in Russian -- to troops massed on the border and to Russian citizens to reject war. In the meantime, according to Conflict news, Websites of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) also appear to be inaccessible. French citizens seeking to depart Ukraine needing further information should communicate with their embassy via Website: https://ua.ambafrance.org  or call +380 44 590 36 00 for immediate assistance. Address of the French Embassy : 39 Reitarska St.1901 Kiev. French citizens planning to depart Ukraine should consult the guidance and contact the French embassy in Kiev at : ambafrance-ukraine.kiev-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr on when departing Ukraine. 

MFA LE DRIAN TRAVELED TO BERLIN ATTENDING GERMAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OVER UKRAINE & SAHEL CRISIS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- « Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, traveled to Berlin today to take part in the Council of Ministers of the German Federal Government. The Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Sahel were at the heart of the exchanges. The Minister also took stock of the progress of the main files of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after having been received by Mr Olaf Scholz, German Federal Chancellor, and Mrs Annalena Baerbock, German Federal Minister for foreign. At the end of the German Council of Ministers, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart held a joint press conference. On all these issues, Mr. Le Drian underlined the close coordination between France and Germany and their common determination to respond firmly to President Putin's decision to recognize the self-proclaimed autonomous republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The adoption of the first European sanctions today marks the firmness, unity and responsibility of Europeans in the face of violations of international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In response to the rupture strategy of the Malian transitional authorities, the Minister insisted on our desire to remain committed to the Sahel and to continue our action to fight against terrorism, in close coordination with Germany and all European partners. and Africans. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed on January 22, 2019, provides that a member of the government of one of the two States takes part, once per quarter and alternately, in the Council of Ministers of the other State. After a first participation in the German Council of Ministers on March 27, 2019, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian is the first member of the French government to participate in a German Council of Ministers led by Mr. Olaf Scholz. » Source: French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.