US closing embassy in Kyiv and moving remaining diplomats to western Ukraine amid fears of Russian invasion

The United States is closing the US Embassy in Kyiv and "temporarily relocating" the small number of remaining diplomatic personnel in the country to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, "due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday.

"I have ordered these measures for one reason -- the safety of our staff -- and we strongly urge any remaining US citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately," Blinken said in a statement.

"These prudent precautions in no way undermine our support for or our commitment to Ukraine. Our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering," he said. "We also continue our sincere efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, and we remain engaged with the Russian government following President Biden's call with President Putin and my discussion with Foreign Minister Lavrov."