Western Countries Normalize Ukraine Embassies... US Considering Options

More than 10 European Countries Recently Resumed

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Visiting Ukraine
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Western countries that had closed their embassies in the capital Kyiv (Kiyev) ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are reopening their embassies one after another. The United States is also considering normalizing its embassy operations.

As Russia, which changed its war objectives to focus on eastern Ukraine, withdrew from the Kyiv area, Western countries are normalizing their embassies, with the United Kingdom planning to reopen its Kyiv embassy next week.

According to the UK Guardian, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who visited Kyiv earlier this month, held a press conference in New Delhi, India, on the 22nd (local time) and said, "We will reopen the embassy in the Ukrainian capital next week." He explained, "This is thanks to the outstanding resilience of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in successfully resisting the Russian forces."

Previously, the UK had closed its embassy in Kyiv just before Russia's invasion in February. Since then, it continued diplomatic work in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv but did not provide in-person consular services.

Canada, which also withdrew its embassy from Kyiv in February, is reviewing the resumption of embassy operations. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is visiting the United States, stated on the same day, "We are listening to and discussing this issue (reopening the embassy) with our Ukrainian friends." Canadian Foreign Minister M?lanie Joly pointed out in a separate statement that Canada's top priority for returning to Kyiv is safety.

Recently, more than ten European countries, including the European Union (EU), France, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic, have reopened their embassies in Kyiv.

President Zelensky described the reopening of embassies by Western countries as "a clear signal to the aggressor."

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who visited the United States, announced on the 22nd that he "cannot guarantee when" the US embassy in Kyiv will resume operations. When asked if he had received assurances from the US government regarding the reopening, he said, "It will happen, but we still have to wait."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.