Rubio and Lavrov Discuss Ukraine, Iran, and Cuba in Phone Call

The US Department of State reported that Secretary Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Monday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov about the war in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and the situations in Iran and Cuba.

The Russian Foreign Ministry disclosed that on Monday, Sergey Lavrov informed Marco Rubio of Moscow's decision to launch strikes on sites in Kyiv linked to the Ukrainian military.

According to a statement on the ministry's website, Lavrov told Rubio that this action was a "response to the ongoing terrorist attacks carried out by the Kyiv regime against peaceful residents and civilian sites on Russian territory."

In a diplomatic escalation reflecting the severity of the military situation, Lavrov officially notified the US side, following direct orders from President Vladimir Putin, that Russian forces had begun "systematic and coordinated" strikes targeting decision-making centers and military facilities in the heart of Kyiv.

During his communication with the US, Lavrov emphasized the necessity for Washington and foreign diplomatic missions to adhere to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s recommendation issued on May 25 to immediately evacuate their staff and citizens from Kyiv to ensure their safety.

Regarding the political track, Lavrov expressed regret over what he described as "aggressive efforts by the Kyiv regime and European elites" aimed at undermining the "Anchorage" agreements concluded in August 2025.

The minister noted that these agreements, initiated by the United States, represented the sole path to a sustainable settlement based on a balance of interests before they were targeted militarily and politically.

The discussions also covered pressing regional issues, with Lavrov and Rubio exchanging assessments of diplomatic initiatives intended to ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the situation surrounding Cuba.

Both Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio reaffirmed their mutual commitment, despite known disagreements, to intensify efforts toward normalizing the working conditions of Russian and American diplomatic missions on each other's soil.