SULAIMANI (ESTA) — There are more than 5,000 Iraqis in Ukraine, Iraq’s ministry of foreign affairs said, one day after Baghdad urged citizens to leave the country.
Spokesman of the Iraqi foreign ministry Ahmed Sahaf said the ministry had taken “all measures” in the event of war in Ukraine.
Sahaf added that there were 5,500 Iraqis who are in Ukraine, noting that the ministry “takes care of the safety of the Iraqi citizens”.
On Saturday, the Iraqi foreign ministry urged its citizens living in Ukraine to leave the country and advised Iraqis to avoid travels as indications that Russia will invade Ukraine have increased.
Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine and a surge of military activity has fueled fears that Russia could invade. Russia denies having any such plans.
Countries around the world including the United States and Britain have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine right away to avoid a Russian invasion.
U.S. officials said Russia could invade Ukraine before the conclusion of the Winter Olympics on February 20 and may seek to seize the capital of Kyiv and other cities.
Moscow accused Western nations of spreading lies to distract from their own aggressive acts.
Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border but denies it plans to invade.
Russia wants guarantees from the West, including a promise of no missile deployments near its borders, no NATO membership for Ukraine, and a scaling back of the alliance’s military infrastructure.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke by phone for an hour with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
Biden told Putin that the West would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine, adding such a step would produce widespread suffering and isolate Moscow.
“President Biden was clear that, if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our Allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia,” the White House said in a statement.
“President Biden reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s standing,” it added.
“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios.”
