France and Germany do not plan to evacuate their diplomatic missions from Kyiv, despite recent threats from the Russian Federation regarding a possible missile strike on the center of the Ukrainian capital. Official representatives of both countries emphasize their commitment to supporting Ukraine and reject the calls from the Russian Foreign Ministry for evacuation.
This is reported by Finway
Germany’s Position: Support for Ukraine and Diplomat Safety
The German Foreign Ministry indicates that recent statements from Moscow demonstrate the lack of a genuine desire for peaceful negotiations from the Russian leadership. A representative of the German foreign office emphasized that the government will not yield to pressure from Russia and will continue to support Ukraine while increasing pressure on the aggressor. Special attention is given to the safety of embassy staff who remain in Kyiv, and the security situation is continuously monitored.
“We will not succumb to this and will continue to support Ukraine while increasing pressure on Russia. A deliberate attack on a diplomatic mission would constitute yet another serious violation of international humanitarian law by Russia. The Foreign Ministry maintains constant contact with our embassy in Kyiv and continuously assesses the security situation. The safety of our staff on the ground is our top priority,” emphasized a spokesperson from the German foreign office.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed in a media comment that there are no plans to evacuate diplomats or close the embassy in Kyiv.
France: Embassy Operations Continue as Usual
The French Foreign Ministry also emphasized that their embassy in Kyiv is operating normally. French diplomats described the calls from the Russian foreign office for evacuation as unacceptable and contrary to Russia’s international obligations. Paris urges Russia to cease aggression and begin negotiations for a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Recently, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement about its intention to declare a ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 in honor of the so-called “Victory Day.” At the same time, the Russian side warned of an “adequate response” if Ukraine does not adhere to this ceasefire and threatened to strike decision-making centers in Kyiv while calling for the urgent evacuation of foreign embassies.
Meanwhile, on the morning of May 8, Russian officials reported a drone attack on several facilities in Russia, including an oil refinery in Yaroslavl. The mayor of Moscow reported the alleged neutralization of more than two dozen drones; however, there were no reports of damage or casualties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that combat operations continue at the front, and the Russian side has not taken any steps toward a real ceasefire. According to the Ukrainian side, in just one night, the Russian army carried out over 140 shellings of positions at the front and conducted ten assaults, with the highest activity observed in the Sloviansk direction.
Earlier, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine advocates for a lasting ceasefire, not a short-term pause for a parade in Moscow. The Ukrainian “silence regime,” declared from midnight on May 6, was violated by Russia almost immediately, and the Russian authorities did not respond to Kyiv’s calls for a ceasefire.