Russia sends recommendations to US regarding strikes on Kiev — Kremlin aide

Lead

Moscow has sent recommendations to the United States through diplomatic channels regarding the Russian Armed Forces' shift to systematic strikes on defense industry facilities in Kiev, but has not yet received a response, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on May 28.

"We have already made a statement on this matter, and our recommendation has also been conveyed to the Americans through the appropriate channels. As far as I know, there has been no response so far," Ushakov said when asked whether the US had replied.

The statement follows a Russian Foreign Ministry announcement that the Russian military would begin carrying out systematic strikes on defense industry sites in the Ukrainian capital, a move the ministry said was prompted by a Ukrainian strike on a college in Starobelsk.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this story comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The three TASS articles provide overlapping but distinct details. One article focuses on Ushakov's comments about US weapons deliveries to Ukraine, another covers Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's remarks about the lack of information on Washington's reaction, and the third combines the recommendation to the US with Ushakov's remarks about EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Because all three sources are from the same outlet, independent verification of the claims is not yet available. The statements attributed to Russian officials are reported directly, but no Western or Ukrainian sources have commented publicly on these developments in the articles provided.

Key Claims

• Russia sent recommendations to the US about strikes on Kiev: According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Moscow has conveyed its recommendations regarding the shift to systematic strikes on defense industry facilities in Kiev through appropriate diplomatic channels. No response has been received so far, he said. This claim is carried by a single TASS article.

• Russia is beginning systematic strikes on defense industry sites in Kiev: The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the Ukrainian army's strike on a college in Starobelsk was "the last straw," prompting the Russian Armed Forces to begin systematic strikes on defense industry sites in the capital. This was reported by TASS in two separate articles. The ministry did not specify the frequency of the strikes, and Peskov declined to interpret whether "systematic" meant daily or irregular attacks.

• Kremlin unaware of US reaction to the warning: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow has no information about Washington's reaction to the warning. He said he had heard statements from European capitals and EU representatives in Kiev but emphasized that Russia's priority was the warning itself.

• Russia recommended foreign nationals leave Kiev: The Russian Foreign Ministry advised foreign nationals to leave the Ukrainian capital as soon as possible and urged city residents to stay away from military and administrative facilities. This was reported by TASS in the Peskov article.

• US unlikely to rush weapons to Ukraine, per Kremlin aide: In a separate interview, Ushakov told Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin that he believes Washington will not "immediately rush to fulfill" Ukraine's requests for additional weapons. "I think the Americans need weapons elsewhere," he said. Ushakov also suggested that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had sent "more than one letter" to the US administration requesting additional weapons.

• US mediators continue to assist in peace talks: Ushakov noted that US mediators remain involved in peace negotiations. "But the Americans, of course, continue to maintain relations with Ukraine. And Zelensky has certainly sent more than one letter to Washington," he added.

• Ushakov dismisses EU diplomat's remarks: When asked about comments by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas regarding the evacuation of American diplomats from Kiev, Ushakov said ironically: "If you believe Kallas, then I don't know what to tell you."

Perspectives

Russian official viewpoint: The Kremlin frames the systematic strikes as a necessary response to Ukrainian actions, specifically the strike on a college in Starobelsk. Officials emphasize that they have notified the US through diplomatic channels and are waiting for a reaction. The tone in the reporting is matter-of-fact, with hints of skepticism toward Western responses.

Potential US/Ukrainian perspective (not reported in these sources): No direct response from Washington or Kiev is available in the provided material. The lack of immediate reaction from the US, as noted by Ushakov, could indicate either that the recommendation was not considered significant or that it is being reviewed. Without independent reporting, it is not possible to assess the validity of Russia's claims or the effectiveness of its warnings.

Independent analysis note: Because all information comes from Russian state media, the claims should be treated with caution. The Kremlin has a stated interest in shaping the narrative around its military actions, and the absence of corroboration from other sources means these statements have not been independently verified.