NATO Member Accuses Putin After Two Ships Sunk in Black Sea
NATO member blames Putin after two ships struck in Black Sea. EU leader condemns attacks as escalation.
POLICY WIRE — Kyiv, Ukraine — A drone strike on two merchant vessels in the Black Sea near Bulgaria has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns over the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev suggested that Russia was responsible for the attack, which resulted in one ship sinking and injuries to five crew members from the other vessel. The status of the second ship’s crew remains uncertain, though one individual was found alive after the vessel went down.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incident, calling it a dangerous escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine. She emphasized that the Black Sea has become a new front in the ongoing conflict, urging accountability for those involved in the attacks.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is still in place, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Moscow of continuing attacks on energy infrastructure. Trump refused to criticize Putin, asserting that both sides had violated the truce.
Zelensky reported that Russian forces launched over 100 weapons, including drones and ballistic missiles, against Ukraine since Monday evening, resulting in at least four deaths and 41 injuries in Kharkiv. He also criticized the lack of warning before missile strikes on Kyiv, highlighting the need for improved intelligence sharing.
The U.S. decision to allow Russian diesel imports has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers across both major political parties, who argue that the move could provide financial support to Putin’s war effort. Former U.S. Ambassador William Taylor warned that the deal poses significant risks to Ukraine and the broader global response to the conflict.
Russian officials have announced plans to increase diesel exports to pre-war levels, citing the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy. However, this has been met with backlash from Ukraine and its allies, who fear it could undermine existing sanctions and further fund the war.
In another development, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen criticized the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel, warning that it could help fuel Russia’s military operations. She urged the U.S. to stand with Ukraine and called for stricter visa restrictions on Russian citizens.
Poland has accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating a sabotage attack on a Starlink satellite station near Warsaw, leading to the arrest of two Turkish nationals suspected of involvement. Polish officials described the incident as part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare by Russian operatives.
As tensions continue to rise, Ukraine has temporarily halted attacks on Russian oil refineries following Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire. However, Zelensky emphasized that Russia has not followed suit, continuing strikes across multiple regions and intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
