EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed that while European embassies remained in Kyiv, the American mission had departed, a statement promptly refuted by both the US embassy and Ukrainian officials.
US Embassy Denies Exit
The US Embassy in Kyiv dismissed reports of its closure on Thursday, May 28, stating via X that it remains open and fully operational. The embassy labeled reports suggesting otherwise as false.
The State Department reiterated that it prioritizes the safety of Americans and maintains consistent security assessments for its Kyiv mission. The embassy advised US citizens against travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict.
Confusion Following Kallas’s Remarks
Kallas made the comments while attending an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus. She asserted that despite Russian threats, all European embassies stayed in the city, but the Americans had left.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhij Tychyj explicitly refuted Kallas’s claims, calling them untruthful. Dmytro Lytwyn, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggested that Kallas may have been referring to a temporary relocation of American diplomats that occurred prior to a weekend missile attack.
Polish Embassy Remains Operational
Personnel at the Polish Embassy in Kyiv continue their duties despite the threat of air strikes. The facility declared that it treats all security warnings with the utmost seriousness but refuses to succumb to Kremlin intimidation tactics.
The Polish mission emphasized that it remains in close coordination with international partners and relevant security services. It described Russian threats against diplomats and civilians as a desperate attempt to achieve goals unattainable on the battlefield.
Context of Russian Threats
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Monday that its armed forces would strike military and industrial targets in Kyiv, advising foreigners to leave the capital immediately. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha thanked EU ministers for ignoring Moscow’s threats.