Ukraine situation: Russia “optimizes” the deployment of diplomatic personnel in Ukraine
China News Agency, Moscow, February 12th. In response to media reports on the substantial reduction of personnel in the Russian embassy and consulate in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said in the form of answering a reporter’s question on the 12th that out of consideration of the current situation, The Russian side has decided to optimize the staffing of Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine. But she also stressed that the Russian embassy and consulate in Ukraine will continue to perform their basic functions.
Zakharova said that some Western publications, including the New York Times, had reported about a month ago when the accompanying children of several Russian diplomats in Ukraine returned to visit their grandparents during the Orthodox Christmas holiday. Spread rumors of the so-called “evacuation” of Russian diplomats. “As we now know, the message was concocted to provide cover for diplomats and their families from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and other countries to begin evacuating their embassies in Ukraine.”
Zakharova said that considering the important influence of Washington and London on Kiev and their manipulation role in Ukraine, Russia has concluded that “the United States and Britain clearly know that some Ukraine is preparing for military operations that may complicate the security situation.” . “Under this circumstance, out of fear of possible provocations by the Kiev regime or a third country, we have decided to optimize the staffing of the Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine to a certain extent.” She also stressed that the Russian embassy and consulates in Ukraine will continue to perform their duties. its basic functions.
On the 12th, the TASS news agency quoted a diplomat of the Russian embassy in Ukraine as saying that the Russian embassy in Ukraine continued to work. According to reports, several countries have recently announced the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel from Ukraine or are considering such a possibility. The actions of these countries are related to the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine. Earlier, the Russian embassy in Ukraine reported that they were conducting research on the evacuation of non-essential personnel from the embassy and consulates.
In addition, in response to a large number of reports in Western media that Russia will “invade” Ukraine on February 16, the first deputy chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Zabarov said on the 12th that the United States and its NATO allies are deliberately It escalated the situation, preached that “war is inevitable, war is about to happen”, and even published fake news through the media that Russia “invaded” Ukraine. He believes that the US and the West are indeed trying to provoke a military confrontation, but not on the scale of the confrontation between Russia and NATO, but on the scale of the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. “They don’t care what happens in Ukraine. The main thing for them is to be able to isolate Russia, impose tough sanctions on Russia, etc.”
RIA Novosti quoted Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov as saying on the 12th that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to speak with U.S. President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone on February 12.
The situation between Russia and Ukraine has continued to be tense recently, and the two sides have deployed a large number of military personnel and weapons in the border areas of the two countries. The US and the West are hyping the Russian side to gather heavy troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border, and there is a tendency to “invade” Ukraine. Russia denies this, saying that NATO activities threaten Russia’s border security and that Russia has the right to mobilize troops on its own territory.