Despite kremlin threats, the EU will not evacuate diplomatic personnel from Kyiv – European Commission spokesperson

"As for us, the EU, we will not change either our position or our presence in Kyiv", - said European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni during a briefing on May 7. He was quoted by Ukrainian and international media.

In this way, he commented on the fact that moscow had urged foreign embassies to evacuate their staff and citizens from Kyiv because of the "inevitability of retaliatory strikes" if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

El Anouni called these threats "part of russia’s reckless escalation tactics".

"Russia is once again outrageously trying to blame Ukraine for its own aggressive war. ... Given this, despite Ukraine’s long-standing attempts to call for a ceasefire and peace, including the recent proposal by President Volodymyr Zelensky, russia has never shown any serious intention to stop the war, but instead continues escalation and killings", - the spokesperson said.

He noted that russian attacks have become an everyday reality in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, and that the russian federation has already damaged several embassies, including the EU mission.

Earlier, Zelensky stated that the russian side had violated the ceasefire regime.