The Dutch embassy in Ukraine has reopened and a small number of staff, plus the ambassador have returned to Lviv, foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Tuesday.

The embassy moved from Kyiv to Lviv just after the Russian invasion and will continue operations from the western city for the time being, Hoekstra said.

Hoekstra said reopening the embassy is of great importance both for dialogue with the Ukraine authorities and other countries, and for monitoring the security risks in Ukraine. The consulate will remain closed.

France and Italy have also reopened their embassies in Kyiv itself, something which the Dutch plan to do as soon as the security situation allows it, Hoekstra said.