Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov’s reported remarks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about future strikes on Kyiv a “brazen provocation” and further proof that Moscow is interested in prolonging the war.
According to the Kremlin, Lavrov told Rubio during a recent phone call that Washington should withdraw diplomats from the US Embassy in Kyiv.
Speaking on the sidelines of the “Ukraine – Africa: Past, Present and Future of Relations” forum on Tuesday, May 26, Sybiha sharply criticized the statement.
“I consider this a brazen provocation. This is another public confirmation of Russia’s interest in continuing the war,” Sybiha said, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
“Lavrov allows himself to publicly describe the course of the conversation, where he effectively confirms threats of strikes on Kyiv. It is very difficult for me to understand how this can even be acceptable,” he added.
According to Sybiha, Ukraine expects its partners not merely to react by issuing security warnings or considering evacuations, but to send a firm signal to Moscow against further escalation.
“We hope that after receiving such signals, our partners will not simply advise their citizens and diplomatic missions to leave Kyiv, but will instead give a strong and clear signal to Moscow not to carry out such strikes,” he said.
Sybiha stressed that Russia’s statements once again demonstrate who is truly interested in escalating the conflict.
He added that “signals should not come from Moscow, but to Moscow.”
“What audacity it is to directly inform a leading country, the most powerful country in the world, that you are neglecting their peace efforts, ignoring the entire peace process, and planning to strike Kyiv,” Sybiha said.
He also stressed that Russia must face consequences for what he described as “irresponsible behavior” regarding peace efforts, adding that Ukraine expects the response from partners to include additional military assistance packages.
The European Union summoned Russia’s top diplomat in Brussels after Moscow warned foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kyiv ahead of what it described as renewed strikes on Kyiv,
EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper called Russia’s warning “an unacceptable escalation” and said the Russian envoy had been told that Moscow must stop targeting civilians.
The move followed a statement by Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday announcing the start of what it called “systematic strikes” on Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities and “decision-making centers” in Kyiv. At the same time, Moscow urged foreign nationals and diplomatic staff to evacuate the city.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova rejected the Russian warnings, insisting Western diplomatic missions would remain in Kyiv despite growing threats.
In a Facebook post published Monday, Mathernova described Moscow’s statements as a “masterpiece of hypocrisy,” accusing the Kremlin of trying to spread fear while continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
“A regime that has spent years bombing residential buildings, museums, maternity wards, schools and power stations now suddenly speaks the language of international humanitarian law and the Geneva conventions,” she said.
Mathernova added that Russia’s intimidation campaign would not succeed.
China also commented on Moscow’s threats, urging all sides to avoid further escalation while refusing to clarify whether it planned to evacuate embassy staff from Kyiv.
Speaking at a regular briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s position that dialogue and negotiations remain the only viable path to ending the war.
She called on all parties to work toward reducing tensions and creating conditions for renewed negotiations, but did not confirm whether China would change its diplomatic presence in Ukraine.
China has maintained an embassy presence in Kyiv throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, although some operations were temporarily moved to Lviv during the early months of the war.