US State Department Urges Citizens to Leave Ukraine

The US State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said that it "regularly urges its citizens in Ukraine to leave the country", due to fears of a possible Russian invasion.

"A government estimate last October showed there were 6,600 Americans residing in Ukraine, but the number is now likely much lower due to the warnings of a possible Russian invasion," Price added during the State Department's daily conference.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has confirmed that there will be no war with Ukraine.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said the United States has requested the UN Security Council to hold a meeting to discuss Russia’s “threatening behavior” against Ukraine.

“Russia is involved in other destabilizing actions targeting Ukraine and posing a clear threat to international peace and security and the Charter of the United Nations,” Thomas Greenfield said in a statement.

“As we continue our relentless pursuit of diplomacy to de-escalate tensions in the face of this grave threat, the United Nations Security Council is an important place for diplomacy,” the US ambassador added.