European officials have dismissed renewed Russian threats against Ukraine and Western diplomats, accusing Moscow of trying to intimidate Europe as the Kremlin escalates warnings over Kyiv.
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Speaking ahead of a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council on 26 May, Polish Foreign Ministry State Secretary Ignacy Niemczycki said Russia’s rhetoric was part of a long-standing strategy aimed at spreading fear across Europe.
“This is nothing new,” Niemczycki said, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “Putin uses this tactic to spread fear among us here in Europe. And I just want to say: It will not work.”
His comments came after Moscow intensified warnings following a new wave of attacks on Ukraine and statements concerning the Oreshnik missile, which Russia says is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Niemczycki said Poland’s position remained unchanged, arguing that Europe should both increase pressure on Russia and strengthen support for Ukraine.
Baltic states dismiss missile threats
Latvian Foreign Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Artjoms Uršuļskis also downplayed the significance of Russia’s references to the Oreshnik missile.
He described the weapon as largely a propaganda tool in the imagination of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying recent strikes and messaging campaigns had not altered Latvia’s assessment of the war.
Uršuļskis said Russia appeared unable to make meaningful progress on the battlefield, while Ukraine was growing stronger. He added that he saw no indication Russian attacks would change the overall direction of the conflict.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said leaving Kyiv was “out of the question” despite Russia’s threats of further strikes.
Diplomats vow to remain in Kyiv
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said diplomats and foreign nationals had no plans to leave the Ukrainian capital.
Mathernová criticised Russia for invoking international humanitarian law while continuing attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine.
“Russia is again threatening diplomats and foreigners, demanding that we leave Kyiv. But we are not going anywhere,” she said.
She accused Moscow of hypocrisy, pointing to years of strikes on apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, museums and power infrastructure across Ukraine.
Moscow warns of sustained strikes
On 25 May, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russian attacks on Kyiv were being carried out in response to Ukrainian actions and would continue.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry later announced what it described as a sustained campaign of “systematic strikes” targeting defence industry facilities in Kyiv. It also urged foreign nationals to leave the city “as soon as possible”.
The ministry said Russian forces could target facilities involved in the design, production and operation of drones, along with what it called “decision-making centres and command posts” in the Ukrainian capital.
Moscow also repeated accusations that Ukraine had attacked a university in Starobilsk, describing the incident as “the last straw” that prompted the latest strikes on Kyiv. The Kremlin accused Ukraine of violating the Geneva Conventions, while making no reference to Russia’s own continuing attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities, which have killed civilians throughout the war.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 27 M
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