Russia said on Tuesday its government has warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate diplomats and American citizens from Kyiv, as Moscow plots fresh strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov “officially informed” Washington that Russia would be launching “systematic and consistent strikes” against Ukrainian military facilities and what Moscow called “decision-making centers,” in a call with Rubio on Monday, according to the Russian government.  

CNBC reached out to the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for comment.

The call came after the Russian government issued a statement urging foreign citizens, diplomatic personnel, and international organizations to leave Kyiv, warning that it was preparing to target the capital, with a focus on facilities for designing, manufacturing, and programming drones.

“The strikes will target decision-making centers and command posts,” the statement said.

“Due to the fact that the above-mentioned facilities are scattered across Kyiv, we are notifying foreign citizens, including the personnel of diplomatic missions and international organizations of the need to leave the city as soon as possible.”

Russia’s government also warned Kyiv’s residents not to use military or government facilities and infrastructure.

Lavrov highlighted the warning to Rubio during Monday’s call, the Russian foreign ministry said.  

In a read-out of the conversation, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio had spoken to Lavrov at the latter’s request.

“The parties exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war, bilateral relations, and the situation in Iran,” he said.

Lavrov was said to have “expressed regret” at the impasse over a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, according to Russia’s foreign ministry.

Last year, the U.S. led talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in a bid to bring the war between the two nations to an end.

The talks reached a stalemate after months of diplomacy, with concessions of Ukrainian territory to Russia remaining a sticking point.

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