U.S. dismisses claim its diplomats have fled Kyiv as Zelenskyy pens Trump letter asking for air defense

The United States on Thursday reiterated that its diplomats remained in Kyiv despite Russia’s escalating threats, dismissing a suggestion from the European Union’s top diplomat that Washington had evacuated the Ukrainian capital.

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The restated American commitment to the city came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a rare letter, appealing to President Donald Trump and Congress for more air defenses.

Russia had urged foreign diplomats to evacuate Kyiv earlier this week, vowing further “systematic” strikes following one of the most intense bombardments on the capital since the start of the war in 2022.

The new threat from Moscow raised fears in the city. Ukraine’s European allies refused to leave, and the State Department told NBC News earlier this week there was no change to the U.S. presence in Kyiv.

But on Thursday the E.U. foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested otherwise.

“What we heard from Ukraine yesterday was that all the embassies stayed, except one, so that also takes courage from those embassies, but yes, all the European stayed, America left,” she told reporters ahead of a foreign ministers meeting in Cyprus.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv issued a swift response denying this and confirming that it was also staying put. “There are no changes to our operations and reports otherwise are false,” the embassy said in a post on X.

Ukraine also denied that American diplomats had evacuated the capital.

The official transcript of Kallas’ comments was subsequently amended to remove the suggestion Americans had left the city. A note said it was “updated with a correction with regard to the diplomatic presence in Kyiv.” Kallas’ spokesperson Anitta Hipper told NBC News that “this was a misunderstanding. See the correction posted.”

Zelenskyy pens letter to Trump and Congress

Meanwhile Zelenskyy wrote to Trump and Congress asking for more American-made air defense ammunition.

“It is quite rare for the leader of another state to address both the President and Congress of the United States simultaneously with a letter,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. “But the situation now requires action, swift and effective action. It is important that America hear Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian leader urged Trump and Congress in the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press, to supply more Patriot PAC-3 missiles and other air defense systems, warning that deliveries to Ukraine were falling dangerously short as the Iran war diverts U.S. stocks.

Ukraine has pounded Russian targets, especially oil facilities and manufacturing plants, with its domestically produced drones in recent months.

At the same time, the Russian military has intensified its aerial attacks, firing almost 90 missiles as well as hundreds of drones at Kyiv last weekend in an effort to overwhelm air defenses.