The U.S. suspends operations at its embassy in Minsk and allows departures from its embassy in Moscow.

• The U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, has temporarily halted its operations, while the State Department has authorized departures from its embassy in Moscow.
• Due to security and safety concerns resulting from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.
• The Biden administration's actions have further strained diplomatic ties with Putin and the Kremlin, which has been widely criticized and hit with severe sanctions due to its military aggression.

The State Department has suspended operations at its embassy in Minsk and authorized the voluntary departure of nonemergency members and their families from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

Due to security and safety concerns resulting from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.

The Biden administration's actions have further strained diplomatic ties with the Kremlin, which has been widely condemned and hit with sanctions due to its military aggression in Ukraine. Additionally, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus, which borders Ukraine and is closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also been sanctioned, most recently by the European Union.

Monday morning, Russian and Ukrainian delegations commenced negotiations at the Ukraine-Belarus border. Both nations agreed to meet with no preconditions, as stated by Ukraine's Defense Ministry.

Blinken announced that the U.S. had granted permission for non-emergency staff and their families to leave the embassy in Moscow on a voluntary basis.

Blinken stated that the Department of State frequently modifies its stance at embassies and consulates globally in accordance with its objectives, the local security context, and the health condition.

"The safety and security of U.S. citizens, including government personnel and their dependents, is our top priority, no matter where they serve," he stated.