Breaking News-Ukraine Tension, President Joe Biden Tells US citizens To Leave Ukraine Now

Ukraine tensions: Joe Biden says US citizens should leave Ukraine now

US President Joe Biden has called on all American citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action.

Mr Biden said he would not send troops to rescue Americans if Moscow invades Ukraine.

Several other countries, including the UK, also urged their citizens to leave.

Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine despite massing more than 100,000 troops near the border.

American citizens should leave now," Mr Biden told NBC News.

"We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly."

Asked whether there was a scenario that could prompt him to send troops to rescue fleeing Americans, Mr Biden replied: "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We're in a very different world than we've ever been."

A host of other countries, including the Netherlands, Japan and South Korea have also told their citizens to leave Ukraine. In its warning Latvia cited "a serious threat to security posed by Russia".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to Australia, said on Friday that "an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics". The Winter Olympics in China are scheduled to end on 20 February.

Diplomatic efforts are under way to defuse the current crisis over Ukraine.

Source:BBC