On May 26, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is ready to mediate the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, following an escalation in threats from Moscow. Russia has warned of systematic strikes on Kyiv, including targeting decision-making centers, and has called for foreign diplomats to evacuate the city. This warning follows a weekend of heavy bombardment, including the use of Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which can travel at ten times the speed of sound. The strikes resulted in casualties, with reports of four deaths in Kyiv and one in Odesa. In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio was informed of the evacuation notice sent to all embassies. However, Western diplomatic missions, including those from France and the EU, have dismissed these warnings, stating they will not evacuate. The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale offensive in February 2022, has escalated into the deadliest war in Europe since World War II, with U.S.-led peace talks currently stalled.