Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.

Ukrainian staff at US Embassy left behind, promises backtracked

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Mar 2022 12:25
  • 4 Shares
5 Min Read

Staff at the US Embassy in Ukraine have said some US officials seem to have given up on Ukraine.

  • x
  • Ukrainian staff at US embassy left behind
    The US Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine

Local Ukrainian personnel at the United States Embassy in Kiev are begging the US administration for assistance and accusing State Department officials of breaking promises of assistance as they try to flee from Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian military operation. 

On March 11, a group of Ukrainian employees of the US Embassy in Kiev sent a letter to State Department management, raising concerns about a "change in tone and open denial of prior promises" by State Department officials in Washington after the Ukrainian employees requested financial assistance, help with safely evacuating their families, and possible visa avenues to the US.

The State Department had previously promised to financially support the employees, in case they had to flee the capital.

Foreign Policy acquired the letter, which detailed the leaders of the embassy staff and some 600 Ukrainians who work for the US. 

“While we realize that some questions may not have specific answers at the moment, for us, the lack of consistency and ability to at least have one part of our lives secured, is really frightening,” the letter stated.

It added that “those of you in regular contact with [locally employed] Staff know first-hand what we are going through: our families are separated, many shelter in basements to stay alive, some fighting in the battlefields, others displaced, children are showing signs of stress from the trauma they have experienced and falling behind schooling and care, and none of us able to sleep through the night for 20 days."

The US also told employees that they should seek refugee status from European countries, rather than from the US.

“Amidst all this, receiving a coldhearted message from the [State Department] official about the need to apply for protected status or register as refugees to rely on assistance in European countries was yet another blow. Needless to say that the refugee status has certain downsides which obviously have not been researched by the speaker in advance.”

According to the authors of the letter, a US official had expressed doubt regarding whether the Embassy would return to what it had before the operation. According to the official, "The U.S. Embassy work will never be the same as in December 2021."

The letter reads that "it is really painful and hard to comprehend. It looks as if some officials have already given up on Ukraine. Can you imagine how this sounds to our colleagues who are now at the front line and defend our country in this war?”

According to Eric Rubin, president of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the State Department has made significant headway in recent weeks in providing financial support to local embassy workers in Ukraine, but much more needs to be done.

Related News

Islamophobic attacks surge after Mamdani’s historic primary victory

US frees felon to build case against falsely deported Abrego: WashPo

Rubin warned that the main concern is future employees would not want to work for the US again if they saw that the US was not doing everything it could to help. He asked why staff members were not helped when "dozens of abandoned embassy vehicles with full gas tanks" are left in the courtyard.

Some diplomats have argued that the State Department seems to have abandoned longtime employees. What is worse is that a former marine officer started a Gofundme campaign for the Ukrainian members of the Embassy and their families. 

One US diplomat asked how the US could not have had any contingency plan when "you’re going around all of Europe saying this invasion is going to happen months in advance?” 

Not only did the US hysterically warn of an "invasion" by Russia, but declassified accounting of transfers and sales examined by The Washington Post exposed the United States' significant increased its supply of lethal military aid to Ukraine as the potential of an escalation with Russia drew closer.

According to the list, the Pentagon began arming Ukrainians with weapons and equipment suited for combat in urban areas as early as December, including shotguns and specialist suits to protect soldiers handling explosive munitions.

The diplomat continued, "The State Department never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to do the right thing.”

The blunders of the US Department of State in Ukraine seem to mirror the failures of Afghanistan wherein the US abandoned embassy staff during its disastrous withdrawal from the country.

Rubin stated that “in a life-or-death situation, what do we do for our local employees? Clearly, that has not been thought out sufficiently.”

Zelensky: Ukraine ended up defending itself on its own

Dreams of joining the NATO alliance and joint defense guarantees against the impending "Russian invasion" seemed to evaporate into the air as soon as Moscow launched its special military operation in Donbass.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video addressing Ukraine, saying, "We ended up defending our country alone. Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone." 

He said there was no willingness to guarantee that Ukraine will become a NATO member. 

"Everyone is afraid, everyone is silent," he said. "They replied that ... they are with us, but are not ready to make us members of the alliance."

  • United States
  • Nato
  • US embassy
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli media: Iran struck sensitive bases; only a fraction revealed
Politics

Only a fraction of Iranian missiles impact revealed: Israeli media

Pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney ends in crackdown, serious injury
Politics

Pro-Palestine Sydney protest ends in violent crackdown, serious injury

Israeli soldiers
Palestine

IOF soldiers blame army for negligence after deadly Khan Younis ambush

Corsican Assembly recognizes Palestine, condemns Israeli genocide
Politics

Corsican Assembly recognizes Palestine, condemns Israeli genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS