Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council secretary Rustem Umerov and his negotiating team were on their way to the US, Zelensky said on X. They are expected to meet in Florida on Sunday (US time) with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, according to an American official.
“The American side is demonstrating a constructive approach, and in the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky is also expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron early this week about conditions for a “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
Russian oil
Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil refineries for months, using long-range aerial drones to strike far behind the frontlines of Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The strikes on the tankers represent a different kind of attack.
Firefighters put out a blaze after a Russian attack in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv, on Sunday.Credit: AP
Kyiv has repeatedly called on the West to take real action against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, which the Ukrainian government says is helping Moscow export large quantities of oil and fund its war in Ukraine despite Western sanctions.
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This masthead’s Blood Oil series has reported on how oil imported to Australia is helping Russian President Vladimir Putin pursue his war on Ukraine.
The fleet of hundreds of often ageing, unregulated vessels came to prominence after Russia’s invasion, bypassing Western sanctions aimed at reducing Moscow’s oil revenue.
Separately, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which handles more than 1 per cent of global oil, said it halted operations after a mooring at Russia’s Black Sea terminal was significantly damaged by a Ukrainian naval drone attack.
CPC exports mainly from Kazakhstan via Russia and the Black Sea terminal.
Naval drones are uncrewed speed boats packed with explosives that sail towards their targets before detonating. They played a prominent role in Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Black Sea, helping to push back Russia’s large fleet of warships.
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The 274-metre tanker Kairos suffered an explosion and caught fire on Friday while en route from Egypt to Russia, Turkey’s Transport Ministry said. The crew was evacuated by rescue boats while efforts to extinguish the fire continued, the ministry said.
The Virat was reportedly struck 35 nautical miles offshore, further east in the Black Sea, the ministry said. That ship was attacked again on Saturday by unmanned vessels, and sustained minor damage to its starboard side above the waterline. The ministry said the vessel was in stable condition and the crew in good health.
Both the Kairos and Virat are on a list of ships subject to sanctions imposed against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to data from financial institute LSEG.
Turkey voiced concern over the attacks, saying the incidents took place in its exclusive economic zone and posed serious safety risks.
Ankara is in contact with relevant parties to prevent the war from spreading in the Black Sea and to protect Turkey’s economic interests and operations in the region, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said in a post on X.
Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry criticised Ukraine for “yet another deliberate attack” on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
“This incident marks the third act of aggression against an exclusively civilian facility whose operation is safeguarded by norms of international law,” the ministry said.
There was no public comment from Russia.
Reuters, Bloomberg
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