All EU member state embassies remain in Kyiv, EU ambassador to Ukraine says
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said that all European Union member state embassies will continue operating in Kyiv despite Russian threats.
Source: Mathernová in a comment to Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Mathernová was responding to a statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry, which called on foreign nationals, including diplomatic mission staff, to leave Kyiv and threatened new massive strikes on the Ukrainian capital.
She said the EU delegation is staying in Kyiv, as are all other EU member state embassies, adding that they remain in close contact with one another. The ambassador noted that the EU's advisory mission is staying, pointing out that 25 member states have embassies in Kyiv and all of them are remaining. She said Russia has made such threats several times already, and that, in her view, this reflects frustration at its failure to gain an advantage on the battlefield.
Mathernová noted that Russia is trying to make the EU reduce its support for Ukraine, but that this only makes the EU more determined to continue that support. She pointed out that the Vienna Conventions govern the operation of diplomatic missions worldwide, and said Russia would be better off not testing their strength.
Background:
- The EU recently condemned Russia's nuclear threats against NATO member states.
- Russia was previously reported to have sent NATO a non-paper warning that it can use its entire available arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if NATO attempts to isolate Kaliningrad Oblast.
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