On 23 April 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, reported during a video address that twenty-one (21) embassies are re-opening in Kyiv and some embassies which remained operational (Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See (the Vatican), Estonia, Georgia, Poland among others) are welcoming back ambassadors. Ambassadors to Ukraine from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, European Union, France, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and United Kingdom have returned or are returning to their respective embassies. Prior to 24 February 2022, Kyiv hosted approximately fifty-eight (58) embassies.

The Embassy of Turkey, whose government in Ankara has presented itself as a mediator for the Russian Federation and Ukraine, is returning its ambassador to Kyiv. The Foreign Minister of Turkey visited Lviv, Ukraine, on 17 March 2022.

The Embassy of the State of Israel, whose government in Tel Aviv has presented itself as a mediator for the Russian Federation and Ukraine, has kept closed the doors to its embassy. The Foreign Minister of the State of Israel has not visited Ukraine since 24 February 2022.

In January 2022, the United States Embassy in Kyiv commenced a draw-down of staff. On 14 February 2022, the United States Embassy closed, and staff relocated to the city of Lviv, Ukraine, approximately forty miles from the border with Poland. On 22 February 2022, staff relocated Rzeszow, Poland, and to the United States Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. On 24 February 2022, the armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine. As of 23 April 2022, the United States Embassy in Kyiv remains closed.

This is harsh, intentionally so. Since he always defends vigorously the manner by which his family (immediate and extended) earn money… If Joseph Biden, President of the United States, had a brother, sister, child, grandchild, niece, or nephew making today money relating to Ukraine might the United States have its embassy in Kyiv open and an ambassador in place? What other rationale would the Biden-Harris Administration (2021- ) have for its diplomatic malpractice? Here are two.

First excuse: The Biden-Harris Administration connects the mothballing of the 11.1-acre five-story United States Embassy compound (with a United States Marine quarters and USAID annex) in Kyiv with concerns about operational security. View an image of the heavily fortified US$247 million site occupied since July 2012 and that connectivity is suspect. Prior to 24 February 2022, there were approximately 181 United States nationals and approximately 560 Ukrainian nationals employed at the compound. Unconvincing the argument that essential staff accompanied by the normal contingent of United States Marines who are attached to embassies throughout the world could not safely reside within and work within the confines of the compound.

Useful to note that the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, along with consulates in other cities, have remained operational throughout the last twenty years- during which there continue to be small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, explosives devices, and missiles directed at the facility.

Second excuse: The now routine (and nearing daily) excuses from spokespersons at The White House and United States Department of State for the lack of a nominee as United States Ambassador to Ukraine. Use of the term “excuses” is more accurately defined as “non answers” because the statements include “we have nothing to announce at this time…” and “the President believes important to have an ambassador…”

There are at least ten high-profile individuals- retired members of the United States Congress and retired officers of armed forces of the United States, who would serve if asked- even for a limited duration. Any one of them would move swiftly through the United States Senate “advise and consent” process. Post-invasion of Ukraine is not the moment for a career foreign service officer. This is a moment for a high-profile appointment- which will provide the ambassador with an expanded public platform from which to address issues including endemic corruption which is likely to be exponentially exacerbated during the reconstruction process when hundreds of billions of United States Dollars and Euros will be circulating in Ukraine. The moment, however, collides with the truth.

The true basis for the delay in re-opening the United States Embassy in Kyiv and for nominating an individual to serve as United States Ambassador to Ukraine is focused upon seeking to lessen attention to Ukraine. The Biden-Harris Administration believes that the nearer the visible presence of the United States is to Ukraine the more pressure will be upon the United States to increase its commercial, economic, military, and political support to Ukraine. The political staff within The White House know that United States taxpayers will not support an endless amount of funds for Ukraine, particularly with the upcoming 8 November 2022 mid-term elections for members of the United States Congress.

An operational embassy brings images in newspapers, magazines, network and cable news programing- reporters standing outside the fencing of the embassy can influence the public- and members of the United States Congress. An ambassador delivers a human connectivity- and demonstrates stability, optimism, permanence, and accountability. An ambassador can also become a target for criticism by the government of Ukraine. Lastly, there is the realistic expectation that a military conflict within the territory of Ukraine will continue, as it has since 2014 when the armed forces of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbas Region (Donetsk oblast and Luhansk oblast), beyond 2022 and 2023 and through 5 November 2024, the presidential election in the United States. At the current rate of borrowing to fund spending in Ukraine, the totals could near US$70 billion on an annual basis- not including spending by other countries. There remains a Doctor Dolittle-inspired “pushmi-pullyu” relationship between statements of support for Ukraine and demonstrations of that support.

That level of commitment is unsustainable as governments seek to manage inflation, increasing interest rates, and increasing prices for food and fuel. To remind, every United States Dollar that the United States government sends to Ukraine is borrowed- the United States does not possess a surplus from which to fund the expenditures.

Since 1 January 2020, a career foreign service officer, Kristina Kvien has served as Chargé d'affaires (person in charge of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country) Ad interim (for the time being) at the United States Embassy in Kyiv. Ms. Kvien arrived at the United States Embassy in Kyiv on 28 May 2019.

The last United States Ambassador to Ukraine was Marie Yovanovitch (18 May 2016 to 20 May 2019), a career foreign service officer, appointed during the Obama-Biden Administration (2009-2017) and relieved during the Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021). Previously, Geoffrey Pyatt (15 August 2013 to 18 August 2016), a career foreign service officer, served as United States Ambassador to Ukraine.

Since 2013, there have been five individuals appointed as Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States: Olexander Motsyk (June 2010 to April 2015), Yaroslav Brisiuck (25 July 2015 to 10 July 2015), Valeriy Chaly (10 July 2015 to 19 July 2019), Volodymyr Yelchenko (19 December 2019 to 25 February 2021), and Oksana Markarova (25 February 2021- Present).

An important reference point: On 15 March 2022, twenty days from when the first missiles impacted the territory of Ukraine, three prime ministers and one deputy prime minister visited Kyiv.

Since 15 March 2022, four presidents, seven prime ministers, one chancellor, one deputy prime minister, three foreign ministers, president of European Commission (EC), president of the European Council (EC), and president of European Parliament (EP) have visited Ukraine. All the countries are members of the European Union (EU); eleven of the countries are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

28 April 2022 (Kyiv)- (Announced) Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the 193-member United Nations
21 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain (EU, NATO); Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Kingdom Denmark (EU, NATO)
20 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the European Commission (EC), Charles Michel
13 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Latvia, Egils Levits (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda (EU, NATO)
10 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson (NATO)
9 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Chancellor of Republic of Austria, Karl Nehammer (EU)
7 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Brussels, Belgium-based European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen; High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EC, Josep Borrell Fontelles; Prime Minister of Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger (EU, NATO)
3 April 2022 (Odesa)- Minister Of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikoloas Dendias (EU, NATO)
1 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Strasbourg, France-based European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola
17 March 2022 (Lviv)- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu (NATO)
15 March 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Petr Fiala (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa (EU, NATO); Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Jaroslaw Kaczynski (EU, NATO)

The Excuses And True Reasons President Biden Doesn’t Want To Re-Open 11-Acre U.S. Embassy In Ukraine. Hints: Family, Optics, Borrowing, 2022 And 2024. U.S. Embassy In Baghdad Is Open…Pushmi-Pullyu

On 60th Day Since Russia Invaded Ukraine, U.S. Secretary Of State And U.S. Secretary Of Defense Visit Kyiv. Applause Should Be Muted Given The Delay. And Visit Is Still A Secret! Don’t Tell Anyone.

Yesterday, President Biden Created Connectivity With Russia Invasion Of Ukraine To 1976 Statement By President Ford: Territory Versus Domination. Look To 3/30/22 Statements By DOD And White House.