“Kyiv won’t be safe until Russia is defeated,” – UK Ambassador in Ukraine

Melinda Simmons made the comments an interview with The Guardian.

Despite her return to Kyiv, she believes that Putin still intends to seize Kyiv. 

“I am here with a heightened level of security protection and bearing in mind that potential risk, but for now I feel comfortable working under those circumstances," Simmons said, addressing the potential for Russian attacks on diplomats in Ukraine.

She added that, despite the strength of Ukrainian opposition and Russia’s failures, the war is unlikely to end soon. 

“You are looking at quite a long game… certainly through this year, and probably through next year,” she said, with the Guardian noting that she “effectively warned that Kyiv won’t be safe until Russia is defeated.”