On Tuesday, Russia's government warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate diplomats and American citizens from Kyiv, citing plans for new strikes on the Ukrainian capital. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed Washington that Russia would conduct 'systematic and consistent strikes' against Ukrainian military facilities and what it termed 'decision-making centers.' This warning was communicated during a call with Rubio on Monday.
The Russian government had previously urged foreign citizens, diplomatic personnel, and international organizations to leave Kyiv, indicating a focus on targeting facilities related to drones. Lavrov emphasized the need for evacuation, stating that the strikes would target decision-making centers and command posts scattered across the city.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that Rubio spoke with Lavrov at the latter's request, discussing the Russia-Ukraine war, bilateral relations, and the situation in Iran. Lavrov expressed regret over the stalled peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Despite earlier optimism from U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about a potential end to the conflict, Rubio noted that U.S.-led negotiations had ceased, with previous talks deemed unproductive. He reiterated that a negotiated settlement is necessary to resolve the war, stating, 'It will not end with a military victory by one side or the other.'
Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Kyiv has faced repeated attacks since the invasion, including recent missile strikes reported as among the largest since the conflict began.