U.S. troopers from the 82nd Airborne Division stroll close to the G2A Arena following their arrival at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, in Jasionka, Poland February 8, 2022.
Patryk Ogorzalek | Agencja Wyborcza.pl through Reuters
WASHINGTON – More than 3,000 American troopers who had been not too long ago deployed to Poland are working with authorities there to organize for a possible wave of individuals fleeing Ukraine if Russia invades the nation, a Pentagon spokesman mentioned Monday.
“Assistance with evacuation flow is something that they could do, and could do quite well,” mentioned Defense Department spokesman John Kirby. “And they’re going to be working with Polish authorities on what that looks like and how they would handle that.”
Kirby famous that the American troops are versatile and able to many missions. But his admission that preparations are underway for a possible inflow of refugees from Ukraine supplied the primary actual glimpse of how U.S. troopers could be used within the area.
Kirby reiterated Biden’s pledge that American troops wouldn’t be combating in Ukraine.
This newest tranche of troopers, roughly 3,000 troops who arrived in Poland over the previous 4 days, are half of a bigger group of 82nd Airborne Division troops that President Joe Biden ordered to deploy to the NATO-allied nation as a part of the joint protection alliance.
Both the United States and its European allies made concrete preparations Monday to defend NATO members and shield civilians as navy motion by Russia grew more and more doubtless.
Later this week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will go to Poland himself, a part of a broader journey to Europe that may embody a NATO ministerial assembly on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to advance his readiness” for an invasion, mentioned Kirby, and is “doing all the things you would expect him to do” if he had been to resolve to take navy motion.
There are greater than 100,000 Russian troops stationed on their borders with Ukraine. Russia claims it’s merely engaged in navy workout routines with its ally, Belarus.
But Kirby mentioned it “strains credulity” to consider that so many troopers could be deployed and positioned throughout Ukraine if this had been certainly an train.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken ordered the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to shut Monday, and directed embassy workers to relocate to Lviv, a metropolis in western Ukraine.
“We are in the process of temporarily relocating our Embassy operations in Ukraine from our Embassy in Kyiv to Lviv due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces,” Blinken mentioned in an announcement.
“I have ordered these measures for one reason — the safety of our staff — and we strongly urge any remaining U.S. citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately,” mentioned Blinken.
State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned later Monday that the Biden administration feels its resolution to relocate the U.S. embassy in Ukraine is “absolutely necessary.”
“It is a distinct possibility, perhaps more real than ever before, that Russia may decide to proceed with military action,” Price mentioned.
He famous, nevertheless, that the U.S. has nonetheless not concluded that an invasion is inevitable. “We believe that there still remains a window to resolve this” by diplomacy, Price mentioned.
Price added that “meticulous planning” preceded the transfer to Lviv, almost 300 miles west of Kyiv.
U.S. intelligence officers who briefed allies final week reportedly mentioned {that a} Russian invasion might start on Wednesday Feb. 16.
On Sunday, nationwide safety advisor Jake Sullivan didn’t deny the report, first printed by Politico. But he mentioned the United States “cannot perfectly predict the day.”
This is a creating story, please test again for updates.
