Russia’s foreign minister advised the U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, that the U.S. should withdraw its personnel from Kyiv ahead of a Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, spoke with Rubio by phone on Monday and informed him that Russian forces would soon commence “systematic and sustained strikes against facilities located in Kyiv,” in response to Ukrainian strikes in Russian territory.
“Sergey Lavrov drew attention to a Russian foreign ministry statement from May 25, which recommended that the United States, along with other states with missions in Kyiv, ensure the evacuation of their diplomatic personnel and other citizens from the Ukrainian capital,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
It said Russia would target “decision-making centers and command posts” in another statement and called for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city.
Russian forces launched a significant barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv over the weekend as well. The barrage included an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is a nuclear-capable missile they’ve fired only twice before during the war. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian forces launched 90 missiles, including 36 ballistic missiles, and 600 drones at Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday.
“Efforts to deal with the aftermath of yesterday’s Russian strikes continue in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi and Podilskyi districts. Nearly 100 State Emergency Service personnel are involved. In total, around 300 sites across Kyiv were damaged,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. “Overall, six of our regions were affected by yesterday’s attack. Protection must be strengthened: support for air defense remains a daily priority of Ukraine’s foreign policy work at every level.”
Russian forces have carried out several large-scale attacks across Ukraine since the three-day ceasefire from May 9-11. Russia pursued a short-term ceasefire so it could safely hold its Victory Day parade, which is held every year on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This year’s parade was very scaled down compared with previous years, which had usually featured displays of military hardware and equipment.
Ukraine has begun using drones to hit targets in the intermediate area behind the frontlines to disrupt Russia’s supply lines.
RUSSIA ATTACKS UKRAINE WITH NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE WAR BEGAN
The Trump administration has tried to broker an agreement to end the war, but its efforts have not resulted in any breakthroughs.
“Right now, the negotiations aren’t … we played, tried to play a mediator role in that,” Rubio said this month. “So far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons. We remain prepared to play that role if it can be productive. We don’t want to waste our time and invest time and energy into an effort that’s not moving forward.”