Belgium summons Russian envoy over Kyiv strike threats

Brussels protests evacuation warning

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot announced on Wednesday that Brussels had summoned the Russian ambassador to protest Moscow's call for diplomatic personnel and foreign nationals to leave Kyiv ahead of anticipated strikes. Prevot described the warning as "unacceptable" intimidation that constitutes a flagrant breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and international law. "Threatening embassies is not diplomacy, it is intimidation," he said in a statement posted on the social media platform X.

Russia-Ukraine hostilities

The evacuation advisory from Moscow comes amid continued hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with the Kremlin signaling potential military action against the Ukrainian capital. Prevot noted that Russia remains solely responsible for the ongoing war and urged Moscow to engage in genuine peace negotiations rather than issuing threats against diplomatic missions. Belgium has maintained its diplomatic presence in Kyiv throughout the conflict, with officials affirming that Brussels will continue supporting Ukrainian sovereignty despite the latest intimidation attempts.

Belgium reaffirms Kyiv commitment

Despite the evacuation warning, Prevot reaffirmed that Belgian diplomatic staff would remain in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian officials and other international partners. "Belgium is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are standing with Ukraine. And we will not be intimidated," he said. Brussels has provided military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the Russian offensive began in February 2022, with Belgian officials repeatedly stating their commitment to supporting Kyiv until a just peace is achieved.