Russia's Lavrov tells Rubio Americans should leave Kyiv

Key Points:

• Russia has officially warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate diplomats and American citizens from Kyiv, citing planned "systematic and consistent strikes" on Ukrainian military facilities and decision-making centers in the capital.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed Rubio during a call that the strikes will target drone-related facilities and command posts scattered across Kyiv, urging foreign personnel to leave the city promptly.
• The U.S. State Department confirmed the call occurred at Russia's request, with discussions covering the Russia-Ukraine war, bilateral relations, and Iran, while Lavrov expressed regret over stalled peace talks.
• U.S.-led peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have reached a stalemate, with Rubio stating that no current talks are ongoing but expressing readiness to resume if constructive; previous talks faltered primarily over territorial concessions.
• Kyiv has faced repeated Russian missile attacks since the 2022 invasion, including a recent major assault over the weekend, marking one of the largest missile launches on the city during the conflict.