Russian FM calls Rubio to threaten 'systematic' strikes on Kyiv
Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Getty Images)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened new strikes on Kyiv and urged the evacuation of diplomats during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Sergey Lavrov held a phone call with Marco Rubio on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian foreign minister told the US side that, in response to "terrorist attacks" on Russian territory, the Russian army is beginning "systematic and consecutive strikes" on targets in Kyiv used for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on decision-making centers.
Lavrov also drew Rubio’s attention to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry recommending that foreign states ensure the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and their citizens from Kyiv.
Separately, the Russian foreign minister referred to alleged agreements on Ukraine that, according to the Russian side, were reached in Anchorage in 2025 at the US proposal. Lavrov accused "European elites" and the Ukrainian authorities of allegedly undermining these agreements.
Moscow claimed that Lavrov and Rubio allegedly confirmed their intention, "despite known differences," to continue working on normalizing the operation of Russian and US diplomatic missions.
On the night of May 24, Russia carried out one of the largest air attacks on Ukraine in recent times. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 90 missiles of various types and about 600 drones, with Kyiv as the main target.
Afterwards, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that strikes on Kyiv "have been and will continue to be carried out."
The Center for Countering Disinformation stated that the Kremlin is intensifying rhetoric about strikes on Kyiv due to a lack of strategic success on the battlefield, attempts to pressure Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in the capital, and an effort to divert Russians’ attention from attacks on Russian territory.
