State Department says its goal is to reestablish US diplomatic presence in Ukraine as soon as it is safe

The goal of the US Department of State is to have the country's diplomatic presence reestablished in Ukraine as soon as it would be safe and practical to have US diplomats on the ground there.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said this at a briefing in Washington, Ukrinform reports, citing CNN.

"We are constantly evaluating and reevaluating the safety and the security situation," he said.

He noted that the presence of diplomats on the ground is an important factor. At the same time, Price said, the lack of diplomatic presence on the ground "has in no way hampered our ability to coordinate and to consult with our Ukrainian partners."