US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered members of the Florida National Guard out of Ukraine, redeploying them “elsewhere in Europe,” according to a Pentagon statement.
The 160 soldiers have been in Ukraine since November on a training mission.
“They are departing from Ukraine and will be repositioned elsewhere in Europe. The secretary made this decision very cautiously – with the safety of our personnel in mind – and informed by State Department guidance on US personnel in Ukraine.”
Pentagon statement
The move, combined with the withdrawal of non-essential staff from the US embassy in Kiev, is a sign of growing concern among US officials about the security of Americans in Ukraine.
The Pentagon says it is still supporting Ukraine’s military despite that order.
“This repositioning does not mean a change in our determination to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but it will provide flexibility to secure allies and deter aggression,” the statement said.
Today, Austin also discussed “Russia’s military buildup in Crimea and around Ukraine” in a call with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, according to a brief Pentagon reading.
Source: CNN Brasil
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