Canada temporarily closes its embassy in kyiv

Photo: Chris Jackson Archives Getty Images via Agence France-Presse The closure of the Canadian embassy follows a warning from the U.S. embassy Wednesday morning that it fears a “possible significant airstrike” by Russia on Ukraine.

While Washington says it fears an imminent airstrike by Russia on Ukraine, Ottawa is following suit by temporarily closing its embassy in kyiv.

“The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine in Kyiv has temporarily suspended in-person services due to the security situation,” the government's webpage says.

Canada joins at least five other Western countries that have closed their embassies on Wednesday: the United States, Spain, Italy, Hungary and Greece.

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The closures follow a warning from the U.S. embassy Wednesday morning that it fears a “possible significant airstrike” on Ukraine. “As a precautionary measure, the embassy will be closed and embassy employees have been instructed to shelter in place,” the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs office said in a statement posted on the embassy’s website.

News agencies report that emergency sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital overnight Wednesday.

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These closures come the day after the Ukrainian army used long-range American missiles on Russian territory. Russia has promised an “appropriate” response to the attack on its territory.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for his part, supported US President Joe Biden’s decision to give Ukraine the green light to use these missiles. “This will allow Ukraine to continue to hold its ground in this important conflict,” he said while attending the G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday.

Ukraine deplored the diplomatic reactions on Wednesday and called on the West not to fuel “the tension” maintained for several days by Moscow.

“The threat of strikes […] has unfortunately been a daily reality for Ukrainians for more than a thousand days,” reacted Ukrainian diplomacy, denying that the risk was higher than usual.

With Agence France-Presse