European Union representatives have rejected calls to leave Kyiv following new threats from Russia, insisting diplomatic missions will remain in the Ukrainian capital despite escalating tensions.
The latest warnings came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that American citizens should leave Kyiv.
EU Says Diplomats Will Remain In Kyiv
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova responded publicly to the Russian statements, declaring that European diplomats would not leave the country.
“Russia wants fear. Panic. Isolation of Ukraine. It will not work,” she said.
“Europe is not leaving anywhere. We remain in Kyiv. We remain with Ukraine.”
The comments underline the European Union’s continued political and diplomatic support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine Warns Against ‘Russian Blackmail’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also urged international partners not to give in to what he described as “Russian blackmail.”
The warnings from Moscow followed an attack on occupied Starobilsk, where Russian authorities claimed that 21 people were killed.
Russia accused Ukraine of targeting civilians, while Ukrainian officials stated that the intended target was military infrastructure.
Russia Threatens New Strikes On Kyiv
Following the Starobilsk incident, Moscow announced plans to intensify attacks on what it described as military facilities and “decision-making centres” in Kyiv.
The statements came shortly after one of the heaviest Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.
On 24 May, Russia launched a large-scale strike on Kyiv, reportedly including the use of the Oreshnik missile system.
According to Ukrainian authorities, two people were killed and 91 others were injured in the attack.
Diplomatic Presence Remains Symbolically Important
The continued presence of European diplomats in Kyiv is widely viewed as an important political signal of international support for Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the war, diplomatic missions in Kyiv have periodically adjusted operations depending on security conditions, but many Western governments have sought to maintain an active presence in the Ukrainian capital despite ongoing risks.
