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The European Union summoned Russia’s top diplomat in Brussels on Tuesday after Moscow urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv, warning of new strikes on the Ukrainian capital, an EU official said.
“Russia's threat to foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kyiv is an unacceptable escalation,” European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a post on social media, adding that the Russian envoy had been told Moscow must “stop hitting civilians.”
Hipper earlier told reporters during the European Commission’s daily briefing that the EU would maintain its presence and operations in Kyiv despite Russia’s warning.
“The aim is to create fear and isolation in Ukraine and elsewhere. But our message is clear: This will not work,” she said.
She added that Russia was attempting to spread panic through threats and argued that Moscow had returned to targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure after suffering setbacks on the battlefield.
“We reiterate that deliberate attacks against civilians and non-military targets constitute war crimes. All commanders, perpetrators and accomplices involved in these grave violations of international humanitarian law will be held accountable,” Hipper said.
She also confirmed that Russia’s charge d’affaires had been summoned to the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Hipper added that the EU would continue supporting Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia.
France also rejected Russia’s call for diplomats and foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, describing it as “intimidation.”
“It is out of the question” to evacuate French diplomatic staff from Kyiv, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told broadcaster Franceinfo.
He said French authorities were taking the warning “very seriously,” with increased vigilance and regular contact with French nationals in Ukraine.
“This is a new intimidation from Moscow,” Confavreux said. “We are used to it, but we do not accept it.”
He added that the move was “all the more scandalous” because Russia, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a party to the conflict, had obligations to protect civilians and diplomatic missions.
“It is trying to absolve itself of any possible future mistake, and that is unacceptable,” he said.
“Targeting civilian infrastructure is a war crime,” he added.
Confavreux also said Russia appeared to be under pressure following military setbacks.
“They are in a military deadlock, it is a form of forward flight,” he said, adding that Russian territorial gains since February had been limited while Ukrainian forces continued to inflict losses.
He estimated that around 35,000 Russian troops were being killed or wounded each month.
He also said sanctions and internet disruptions were increasing pressure on Russia’s economy and population.
Russia on Monday urged residents of Kyiv, including diplomats and international organization personnel, to leave the city “as soon as possible” ahead of what it described as “systematic strikes” against facilities linked to Ukraine’s military-industrial complex.
Moscow said the strikes would target drone-related facilities and command centers following what it called a Ukrainian strike in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that killed 21 people.
Ukraine rejected the accusation, saying its forces target only military infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and independent verification of battlefield claims remains difficult.
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