EU Ministers Meet in Cyprus: Russia’s Kyiv Warning Sparks Diplomatic Backlash

EU foreign ministers are debating Moscow’s Kyiv warning in Cyprus after several member states denounced it as diplomatic intimidation.

Russia’s warning for foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv “as soon as possible” has become a key topic at an informal European Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Cyprus, after several EU countries denounced Moscow’s message as intimidation.

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Limassol on May 27-28 for the bloc’s informal “Gymnich” talks, chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The discussions come amid renewed debate over whether the EU should engage directly with Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine.

Last Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to warn that Moscow planned to launch systematic strikes on targets in Kyiv linked to Ukraine’s military and command structures, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement cited by international media.

Earlier the same day, the Kremlin urged foreign nationals, including diplomatic staff and representatives of international organisations, to leave Kyiv as soon as possible. It also advised residents of the Ukrainian capital to stay away from military and administrative infrastructure.

EU governments swiftly rejected the warning. Germany, France, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Estonia and the European Commission were among those that summoned Russian ambassadors in protest, according to Euronews.

European countries said their diplomatic missions in Kyiv would remain open, while officials accused Moscow of attempting to intimidate diplomats, foreign nationals and civilians.