Ukraine leader tells Scholz Russia using gas link as 'weapon'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday it had been a mistake for some Western countries, including the United States, to move their diplomats from Kyiv in fear of a Russian assault.

"It is a big mistake that some embassies -- well, this is their decision -- are moving to western Ukraine," he said, after some international missions opened offices in the city of Lviv.

"Because there is no western Ukraine, there is Ukraine, it is whole. So if, God forbid, something happens it will be everywhere."

US intelligence has warned that Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops around Ukraine's borders, could invade within days, and some officials fear a lightning strike against the capital.

Several countries have withdrawn diplomats and urged their citizens to leave Ukraine, to the dismay of many in Kyiv, who fear the West is overreacting and giving ground to Russian pressure.    

The United States ordered the departure of most of its diplomatic staff in Kyiv, while it will maintain a consular presence in the western city of Lviv.

Canada is closing its embassy in Kyiv temporarily, moving diplomatic operations to Lviv, as is Australia.

Zelensky also told Germany's visiting Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia was wielding its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as a "geopolitical weapon".

The controversial energy link bypassing Ukraine has been a growing irritant in Germany's relations with Washington and Kyiv.

"We have certain disagreements in our assessments" of the Russia-Germany energy link, Zelensky said, after talks with Scholz in Kyiv.

"We clearly understand that it is a geopolitical weapon."

Russia has completed the building of the pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea, but German regulators are yet to approve its use.

US President Joe Biden has warned that he would find a way to "bring an end" to the project should Russia invade Ukraine.

Without mentioning Nord Stream 2 by name, Scholz said that "no one should doubt the determination and preparedness" of Berlin to punish Russia in case it attacks its neighbour.

"We will act then and they will be very far-reaching measures that will have a significant impact on Russia's economic development opportunities," Scholz said.