Russia rejects US call to halt threatened airstrikes on Kyiv

The United States issued an unusually strongly worded criticism of Russia on Thursday, urging Moscow to refrain from carrying out threatened systematic airstrikes against Kyiv. Russia rejected the appeal and repeated its recommendation for diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital.

Russia has rejected a direct appeal from the United States to hold back from launching systematic aerial attacks on Kyiv, with Moscow instead doubling down by repeating its warning for diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital.

Washington issued the unusually blunt rebuke on Thursday, urging Russia to refrain from the threatened strikes. The rare directness of the US language signals growing concern among Western allies about the potential for a major escalation in the conflict.

Moscow dismissed the call outright and reiterated its earlier advice to foreign diplomatic missions in Kyiv to consider departing the city — a move widely interpreted as a signal that strikes could be imminent. Such warnings are typically issued ahead of large-scale attacks.

The exchange marks a significant deterioration in already strained US-Russia communications over the war in Ukraine. Western governments have been closely monitoring Russian military movements and statements for signs of an escalatory offensive against the Ukrainian capital.

Kyiv has endured repeated drone and missile strikes throughout the conflict, but a systematic aerial campaign targeting the capital would represent a major escalation. Ukrainian authorities have so far given no indication of plans to evacuate the city.