© EPA-EFE/JACK GUEZ The Secretary of State commented on recent attacks on Kyiv by Russians.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conveyed a message from Vladimir Putin to American President Donald Trump through him, reported RFE/RL journalist Alex Raufoglu. At the same time, the head of the State Department did not pay attention to speculations that the Russian Federation specifically urged the US to evacuate embassy personnel from Kyiv, referring to “systematic strikes on facilities” in the Ukrainian capital.
“Rubio just told reporters that Lavrov delivered a message from Putin intended for Trump, which, according to Rubio, he passed on. Rubio also dismissed speculations that Russia specifically urged the US to withdraw embassy personnel from Kyiv, noting that Moscow generally warned diplomatic missions that the Ukrainian capital remains dangerous,” Raufoglu wrote on X.
In particular, according to Rubio, the danger of wars lies in the fact that “they always carry a threat of escalation.” The US Secretary of State also commented on recent Russian attacks on Kyiv. According to him, they emphasize the need to end the war.
“Every time we see such large-scale strikes from one side or the other, it reminds us why this terrible war, which has been going on longer than World War II, must end. The US is ready to do everything in its power to facilitate the end of this war, and, hopefully, someday there will be an opportunity when we can fulfill this role again,” the journalist quoted the Secretary of State.
The day before, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Lavrov had a phone conversation with Rubio, during which he spoke about the beginning of “systematic and consistent strikes” on Kyiv. Lavrov also drew Rubio’s attention to the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry dated May 25, which recommended foreign states to evacuate diplomatic personnel from Kyiv. The statement mentioned the US and other countries that have diplomatic missions in the Ukrainian capital.
The Russian authorities link the “systematic strikes” on Kyiv to the attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on occupied Luhansk on the night of May 22. According to the representatives of the terrorist country, the buildings of the Luhansk State Pedagogical University in occupied Starobilsk were allegedly hit. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refuted the occupiers’ statements and noted that in the Starobilsk area, one of the headquarters of the “Rubicon” unit was attacked.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to the threats from the Russians. In particular, the head of the department, Andriy Sybiga, stated that partners should not succumb to Russian threats of new strikes on Kyiv and should provide Ukraine with “additional packages of solidarity and concrete support.”
Meanwhile, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Maternova, stated that the EU will not abandon Kyiv despite new threats from Russia against foreign diplomats. Poland noted that any strikes on the country’s diplomatic missions would be considered intentional and targeted actions.