The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has firmly denied reports suggesting a change in its operations, asserting it remains open despite recent warnings from Russia and conflicting statements from European officials. The denial came on Thursday, following Moscow’s advisories for diplomats and foreigners to leave the Ukrainian capital ahead of potential escalated attacks.
Confusion arose after some Ukrainian media cited remarks by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Speaking on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Cyprus, Kallas indicated that all foreign embassies in Kyiv had disregarded Moscow’s threats, “except one.” She stated, “What we heard from Ukraine yesterday was that all the embassies stayed except one. All the Europeans stayed. America left.” This prompted several EU states to summon Russian ambassadors after the warning was issued on Monday.
In response, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv posted on X, unequivocally stating, “The U.S. Embassy is open. There are no changes to our operations and reports otherwise are false.”
However, Dmytro Lytvyn, communications adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, told reporters that Ukraine had received information that some American diplomats had indeed departed Kyiv during the latest significant Russian strike on Sunday. Lytvyn expressed gratitude to all embassies that continue their work in Kyiv and support Ukraine. A representative for the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv declined to comment on Lytvyn’s assertions.
Adding to the context, the acting U.S. ambassador to Kyiv, Julie Davis, was reportedly in Lviv for an event over the weekend, according to the embassy’s social media. The embassy’s X post also reiterated, “The State Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans and regularly reviews the security posture of Embassy Kyiv.”