Marco Rubio said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov personally asked him to deliver a message from Vladimir Putin to US President Donald Trump regarding planned strikes on Kyiv. Rubio said Lavrov informed him Russia would continue targeting facilities allegedly linked to Ukraine’s military operations. The warning highlighted rising tensions amid continuing Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
According to Rubio, Russia had already sent security warnings to foreign embassies in Kyiv before Lavrov’s direct call. He said the message was not limited to the United States and had been distributed to diplomatic missions broadly. However, Rubio noted that Lavrov specifically contacted him at Putin’s request to ensure Trump received the warning directly.
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Rubio added that no formal schedule currently exists for new peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. He stressed that the United States remains ready to support diplomatic efforts whenever meaningful opportunities emerge. Rubio also described the latest large-scale strikes as a reminder of the devastating human cost of the prolonged conflict.
Earlier this week, Russia reportedly warned diplomatic staff and foreign nationals to leave Kyiv due to planned military operations. Moscow claimed the strikes targeted facilities supporting Ukrainian military activities. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it remained prepared to strengthen security measures for diplomatic missions requesting additional protection.
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Despite the Russian warnings, Katarína Mathernová said Western diplomats would remain in Kyiv. European officials signalled continued support for Ukraine despite escalating Russian threats. Analysts believe the latest developments further complicate already stalled international efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.