The Biden administration warns US companies that their employees in Russia could be taken hostage in retaliation for sanctions – as more flights are canceled by Moscow
- US officials warn companies that their employees could be taken hostage or arrested in Russia
- The State Department will not confirm the number of Americans in Russia
- More flights are being canceled as Russia and the EU close their airspace to each other
- The United States has not yet canceled flights to and from Russia, but it is possible
- Businesses are also pulling money out of the country as the ruble falls
- Biden and the West are fighting Putin economically to try to limit his resources
- The war in Ukraine began on February 24 with air strikes by Putin
The Biden administration has quietly warned American companies with large business interests Russia that their employees there could be taken hostage in retaliation for sanctions.
With the fall of the ruble and American and European banks banning all business with Russia as it continues its attack on Ukraine, many American businesses are withdrawing their money from the country.
Biden officials are now also warning these companies that unless they recruit staff, they could be arrested or taken hostage, according to unnamed sources. NBC in Tuesday.
Concerns are growing that the EU and Russia have already closed their airspace to each other, making it difficult for anyone who wants to leave Russia to leave the country.
Police patrol Red Square in Moscow, Russia, March 1, 2022. The world turns its back on Russia as it continues its attack on Ukraine, putting all Americans who may still be there in an increasingly dangerous situation
President Biden has imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia. It has not yet suspended trade flights to and from Russia and the United States, but it is possible
It is unclear how many Americans currently live in Russia. There were 23,000 Americans in Ukraine at the beginning of the conflict with Russia.
A State Department official told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that they do not support the number of Americans living abroad in any country.
The US Embassy in Moscow is already allowing staff to leave the country voluntarily as a result of the conflict.
On Sunday, the State Department issued a signal warning all Americans in the country to leave while they can.
“A growing number of airlines are canceling flights to and from Russia, and many countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines.
“US citizens should consider leaving Russia immediately through the options still available,” it said.
Evelyn Farka, Russia’s top Pentagon official during the Obama administration, told NBC it was a “plausible concern” that Americans could be taken hostage or arrested in Moscow or other Russian cities.
There are also fears that US citizens could be arrested on false charges of espionage and imprisoned in the country, such as Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, both in Russian prisons.
The State Department has not confirmed how many Americans currently live in Russia.
The number of ways out of Russia is declining. EU countries have already suspended trade flights to and from Russian cities
People queuing to buy tickets at a Moscow metro station on Tuesday morning after their payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Mastercard were rejected as a result of sanctions
Russia’s attack on Ukraine continued on Tuesday with brutal strikes on densely populated civilian areas such as Kharkiv, where the town hall building was deleted
Dozens of Americans are fleeing Ukraine by train, bus and car after choosing not to heed the government’s warnings to leave earlier this month.
Biden warned on February 10 that the State Department would not be able to gather people to evacuate them, as they did in Afghanistan.
Many disobeyed and stayed, and now find themselves in a conflict zone.
Dozens of European airlines have already canceled all flights to and from Russia.
President Biden has not yet made that commitment. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said it was possible, but it would also affect travel to Asia.
“There are many flights that US airlines fly over Russia to travel to Asia and other parts of the world, and we take a number of factors into account,” she said Monday.
The United States has rejected the imposition of a no-fly zone on Russian planes over Ukraine at Zelensky’s request.
Psaki said that would mean US military planes actively shooting down Russian planes and going to war.
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