Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the United States to evacuate diplomats from its embassy in Kyiv during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, Russia’s foreign ministry said.
– “On May 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” the ministry said in a statement.
– “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,” it added.
– Russia said Monday it plans to launch more strikes on Kyiv, including on its “decision-making centers,” and repeated a call for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the city.
– Ukraine described Russia’s threats as “rhetoric.”
– “We are now telling our partners that they should not give in to all this Russian blackmail,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.