english.jpnn.com, AUSTRALIA - The Australian government said on Sunday it was evacuating its embassy in Kiev as the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border rapidly deteriorated.
Australian embassy staff in Kiev were directed to a temporary office in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine some 70 kilometers from the border with Poland, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
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"We continue to advise Australians to leave Ukraine immediately by commercial means," Payne said.
Prime Minister Morrison said the situation in Ukraine had "reached a very dangerous stage". He called Russian actions "threatening and bullying" Ukraine "completely and utterly unacceptable".
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The United States and Europe have raised their warnings of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine.
The Kremlin dismissed the joint diplomatic response by the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to its demands to reduce tensions as disrespectful.
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Russia has been trying hard to gain more influence in post-Cold War Europe.
In addition to evacuating the Australian embassy in Kiev, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on China not to remain "calm and silent" about the crisis in Ukraine.
Morrison, whose government has cold relations with China, also called on Beijing to speak on behalf of Ukraine after China criticized a meeting of foreign ministers of the US, Australia, Japan, and India in Melbourne last week.
Relations between Australia and its main trading partner China deteriorated after Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from operating on its 5G internet network in 2018.
In addition, the Australian government tightened laws against foreign political interference and urged an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19. (reuters/ant/dil/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Australia Evakuasi Kedutaan di Ukraina, Lalu Kecam China