Germany has stated that it will not yield to Kremlin threats and will not evacuate its diplomatic mission from Kyiv, German Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, according to Bloomberg.
The statement came amid Russian calls for foreign states to “evacuate” diplomats from Kyiv ahead of 9 May, Russia's Victory Day.
Germany refuses to scale back its embassy in Kyiv despite Kremlin signals
“We are in close contact with other embassies. We won't be intimidated by this. We know the Russians, and these are the means they take,” Johann Wadephul said.
According to him, Berlin will not alter its diplomatic presence in the Ukrainian capital because of Russian threats and information pressure.
Russia seeks to pressure Ukraine’s allies through an atmosphere of intimidation
Germany’s foreign minister stressed that Moscow is waging not only a war against Ukraine, but also a hybrid campaign against its international partners.
“They are not only reveling this war against Ukraine, but also, of course, a war of information and communication against us, as we are strong and reliable supporters of Ukraine,” Wadephul noted.
Berlin leaves open the possibility of contacts between Merz and Putin
Commenting on the possibility of a direct phone call between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vladimir Putin, the minister did not rule it out in the future.
At the same time, he emphasized that any contacts would depend on the Russian side’s willingness to take genuine steps toward peace.
Earlier, Russia propaganda channels began spreading messages about possible strikes on Kyiv in the event of a “disruption” of the military parade in Moscow. Among the potential targets mentioned are the Ukrainian Parliament, the government quarter, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Office of the President of Ukraine.
These narratives also include signals of strikes could affect the diplomatic missions of Armenia, Latvia, and Japan, escalating the rhetoric into direct pressure on foreign missions.
