MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. During a phone call with his US counterpart Marco Rubio on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told America’s top diplomat that the Russian armed forces were beginning systematic strikes on sites in Kiev used by the armed forces of Ukraine (AFU), the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Rubio said he had relayed the message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about Russia’s next steps to President Donald Trump following a phone call on Monday between the two top diplomats.
TASS has summed up key facts about the call.
Russian foreign ministry’s statement
Lavrov officially informed the American side that in response to the Kiev regime’s continued attacks against civilian population and infrastructure in Russia, the armed forces of the Russian Federation were beginning systematic and consistent strikes against military sites and corresponding decision-making centers in Kiev, the ministry said.
Lavrov also drew the US secretary of state’s attention to the Russian foreign ministry’s advice "to ensure the evacuation of their diplomatic personnel and other citizens from the Ukrainian capital."
In the course of the conversation, Lavrov "recalled the agreements reached at the highest level at the suggestion of the US in Anchorage in August 2025 regarding the Ukrainian conflict and expressed regret that the high-handed efforts of the European elites and the Kiev regime are undermining these agreements, which paved the way for a sustainable long-term settlement based on a balance of interests," the ministry pointed out.
Lavrov and Rubio "reiterated mutual commitment, despite the existing differences, to invigorate efforts to normalize the work of the Russian and US diplomatic missions in each other’s territories."
The two top diplomats also discussed the situation around Cuba and in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Department of State’s statement
Lavrov and Rubio "exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war, bilateral relations, and the situation in Iran," State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a written statement following the call.
Rubio’s comments
Rubio said he had assured Lavrov that Washington is willing to play a helpful role on Ukraine.
He also said he had relayed the message from Lavrov about Russia’s next steps to President Donald Trump.