Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov’s reported remarks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about future strikes on Kyiv a “brazen provocation” and further proof that Moscow is interested in prolonging the war.According to the Kremlin, Lavrov told Rubio during a recent phone call that Washington should withdraw diplomats from the US Embassy in Kyiv.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Speaking on the sidelines of the “Ukraine – Africa: Past, Present and Future of Relations” forum on Tuesday, May 26, Sybiha sharply criticized the statement.“I consider this a brazen provocation. This is another public confirmation of Russia’s interest in continuing the war,” Sybiha said, according to Interfax-Ukraine.“Lavrov allows himself to publicly describe the course of the conversation, where he effectively confirms threats of strikes on Kyiv. It is very difficult for me to understand how this can even be acceptable,” he added.According to Sybiha, Ukraine expects its partners not merely to react by issuing security warnings or considering evacuations, but to send a firm signal to Moscow against further escalation.“We hope that after receiving such signals, our partners will not simply advise their citizens and diplomatic missions to leave Kyiv, but will instead give a strong and clear signal to Moscow not to carry out such strikes,” he said.Sybiha stressed that Russia’s statements once again demonstrate who is truly interested in escalating the conflict.