Officials from the United States Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, disputed reports of abandonment on Thursday amid threats of Russian airstrikes in the country’s capital city. The denial comes in response to comments by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who claimed the U.S. had evacuated the Embassy. She made the comments before Thursday’s “Informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers” of the European Union held in Cyprus.

“Also, what we heard from Ukraine yesterday was that all the embassies stayed, except one, so that also takes courage from those embassies,” Kallas said when answering a question about diplomatic actions taken after Russia’s latest threats against Ukraine. “But yes, all the European stayed, America left.”

Shortly after her comments, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv’s social media account refuted them, stating that the Embassy was open and that “reports otherwise are false.”

“The U.S. Embassy is open,” read a post on X. “There are no changes to our operations and reports otherwise are false. The State Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans and regularly reviews the security posture of Embassy Kyiv.  We reiterate our message that Americans should not travel to Ukraine for any reason due to the armed conflict.”

The message was posted above a recent picture of Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) speaking outside the Embassy. The congressmen also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the country’s war with Russia.

Later, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also affirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv remained open and had not left Ukraine.

“Reports about the departure of the U.S. Embassy are not true,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

RUSSIA INFORMS US OF UPCOMING STRIKES ON KYIV AND URGES AMERICA TO PULL DIPLOMATS

On Monday, the Washington Examiner reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advised Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the U.S. should evacuate its diplomatic officials from Kyiv ahead of a Russian strike on the city.

“Sergey Lavrov drew attention to a Russian foreign ministry statement from May 25, which recommended that the United States, along with other states with missions in Kyiv, ensure the evacuation of their diplomatic personnel and other citizens from the Ukrainian capital,” read the statement.