Lavrov drew Rubio's attention to the recommendations to evacuate diplomatic staff from Kiev.

On the evening of May 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The central theme was the conflict on the territory of Ukraine: Russia is ready to respond to the terrorist attacks in Kiev and calls for the evacuation of diplomats from the Ukrainian capital. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Warning to Russia about strikes on Kiev

The initiative of the conversation came from the Russian side: Lavrov, on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, informed the US Secretary of State that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were moving to "systematic and consistent strikes" against military installations, enterprises of the military-industrial complex and decision-making centers in Kiev. All this will be a response to attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on civilians and civilian objects, including the college in Starobilsk.

Lavrov also drew Rubio's attention to the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which recommended that foreign countries urgently evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Kiev. In addition, the minister expressed regret that Europe and the Kiva undermine the Russian-American agreements on the settlement in Ukraine, reached in August 2025 at the Anchorage summit.

Statements by the US State Department

According to an official press release from the State Department, the sides exchanged views on the conflict in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and the war in Iran.

The next day, on May 26, speaking to reporters, Rubio revealed additional details. According to him, during the conversation, Lavrov conveyed through the American Secretary of State a message from Putin to US President Donald Trump. The American leader has already received this message. The content of the message was not disclosed.

Discussion of bilateral issues

There were other topics on the agenda of the talks between Rubio and Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the sides exchanged assessments of diplomatic initiatives to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the American escalation around Cuba. In addition, Lavrov and Rubio confirmed their commitment to "step up efforts to normalize the working conditions of the diplomatic missions" of the two countries, despite the differences.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's warning about the evacuation of diplomats from Kiev

On May 6, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a note through diplomatic channels calling on foreign countries to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Kiev, the official representative of the department, Maria Zakharova, said. The warning was directly related to the threats of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who announced his intention to attack Moscow on Victory Day during the European Union (EU) summit in Yerevan.

Zakharova issued a statement again on May 25, announcing new "systemic strikes" on Kiev in response to the terrorist attacks and again calling on foreign countries to evacuate. In her commentary, she said that "Russia's cup of patience is overflowing," and warned that attacks would be carried out consistently, including on decision-making centers.