The White House is discouraging people from the United States from traveling to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia’s invasion.
Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for “citizens of the world” to join its fight on Sunday, the Biden administration is admonishing those who might be interested in traveling overseas on their own accord.
Recommended Stories
“Ukrainians have shown their courage, and they are calling on every resource and lever they have to defend themselves. We applaud their bravery. However, our travel advisory remains. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine,” deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday, as reported by the Hill.
DRONES AND JAVELINS: UKRAINE’S ARSENAL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA
On Sunday, Zelensky announced the formation of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, allowing those outside the country to join the call to arms.
“We already have thousands of requests from foreigners, who want to join the resistance to the occupiers and protect the world security from Putin regime,” a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said Monday, according to USA Today.
Those interested in joining the legion should contact the embassy in their country by visiting in person, emailing, or calling to start the process and prepare travel documents, such as their passport, a Ukrainian official told the Military Times.
“Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet on Sunday.
Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 27, 2022
The legion was formed as Ukraine fights Russian forces without any assistance from foreign soldiers. The Ukrainian government has already declared martial law prohibiting men ages 18 to 60 from leaving Ukraine, with some exemptions. On Monday, Zelensky said Ukrainians in jail with combat experience will also be released to fight on the front lines.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The State Department issued a level four travel advisory telling citizens not to travel to Ukraine on Feb. 24.
“U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options. U.S. citizens remaining in Ukraine should carefully monitor government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place,” the advisory reads.
