EU ambassador: all member states' embassies stay open in Kyiv

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said that embassies of all European Union member states will keep operating in Kyiv despite Russian threats of fresh massive strikes on the Ukrainian capital. She made the remarks in comments to Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, as reported by European Pravda.

Her statement came in response to a declaration from Russia's Foreign Ministry, which urged foreign nationals, including diplomatic staff, to leave Kyiv while warning of possible new large-scale strikes on the city.

Embassies remain in place

Mathernová said the EU's own delegation is staying in Kyiv, as are all other EU member state embassies, noting that they remain in close contact with one another. She pointed out that the EU's advisory mission is also staying, and that of the 25 member states with embassies in Kyiv, every one of them is remaining.

According to Mathernová, Russia has issued similar threats on several previous occasions, which in her assessment reflects frustration over its inability to gain an advantage on the battlefield. She said Russia's apparent aim is to pressure the EU into scaling back its support for Ukraine, but that such threats instead strengthen the bloc's resolve to continue that support.

The ambassador noted that the operation of diplomatic missions worldwide is governed by the Vienna Conventions, adding that Russia would be well advised not to test their strength.

The statement follows the EU's recent condemnation of Russian nuclear threats directed at NATO member states. Russia had earlier reportedly sent NATO an informal warning that it could use its full available arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if NATO attempted to isolate the Kaliningrad region.