Statement by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová on Russia’s Renewed Threats to Diplomats and Foreign Citizens in Kyiv

russia threatens diplomats and foreigners again, asking us to leave Kyiv. But we are not going anywhere!

Today’s statement of the russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a masterpiece of hypocrisy.

A regime that has spent years bombing residential buildings, museums, maternity wards, schools and power stations now suddenly speaks the language of “international humanitarian law” and “Geneva conventions”.

The same regime that launches nightly missile and drone attacks on civilians now warns others to stay away.

We understand exactly what this means. Russia wants fear. Panic. Isolation of Ukraine.

It will not work.

The EU is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are staying with Ukraine.

Threats against diplomats and international organisations are not a sign of strength. They are a sign of desperation.

The more aggressive and threatening the Kremlin becomes, the clearer it is that Putin’s regime understands it cannot break Ukraine’s resilience, nor the support of its partners.

Kyiv stands.

Ukraine stands.

And so do we.