Putin Claims Ukraine Unwilling to Negotiate as Kyiv Strikes Russian Tanker in Mediterranean

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Ukraine shows no willingness to negotiate a peace deal, attributing the ongoing conflict to Kyiv's stance. He emphasized that Russia is open to negotiations but only under conditions that include Ukraine's acceptance of territorial concessions and demilitarization, terms that Ukraine has consistently rejected.

Putin claimed that Russian forces have "fully seized strategic initiative" along the 600-mile front line in eastern Ukraine, asserting that "our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors."

Concurrently, Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency announced a drone strike on the Oman-flagged oil tanker Qendil in the Mediterranean Sea, marking a significant expansion of its military operations. The SBU described the operation as "unprecedented" and stated that the tanker was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to circumvent sanctions. A source within the SBU commented, "Russia used this tanker to circumvent sanctions and earn money that went to the war against Ukraine. Therefore, from the point of view of international law and the laws and customs of war, this is an absolutely legitimate target for the SBU. The enemy must understand that Ukraine will not stop and will strike it anywhere in the world, wherever it may be."

In response to the attack, Putin dismissed its significance but warned of potential repercussions, stating, "They're pursuing some utilitarian purposes. They want to raise insurance premiums, but this will not bring about the result they desire. This is not going to disrupt the supplies. This would only create additional threats, and Russia is certainly going to respond."

Meanwhile, the European Union agreed on a support package for Ukraine exceeding $100 billion, opting for an interest-free loan against its own budget after failing to reach consensus on using frozen Russian assets. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted, "These funds are sufficient to cover the military and budgetary needs of Ukraine for the two years to come," adding that the frozen Russian assets will remain blocked unless Russia pays reparations to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya acknowledged the EU's decision, stating, "Indeed, there are moments when one should keep in mind that 'Perfect is the enemy of good.' It was a long night for European leaders, but they were able to come up with a workable result."