A Ukrainian drone strike ignited fires at one of Russia’s Black Sea ports, officials said Sunday, ahead of fresh talks aimed at ending the nearly 4-year-old war.
Two people were wounded in the attack on the port of Taman in the Krasnodar region, which damaged an oil storage tank, warehouse and terminals, according to regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev.
Meanwhile, falling debris from Russian drones damaged civilian and transport infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region, officials said, causing disruption to the power and water supply.
Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian energy sites aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue its full-scale invasion. Russia wants to cripple the Ukrainian power grid, seeking to deny civilians access to heat, light and running water in what Kyiv officials say is an attempt to “weaponize winter.”
The attacks came ahead of another round of U.S.-brokered talks between envoys from Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva, just before the fourth anniversary of the all-out Russian invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested there were still questions remaining over future security guarantees for his country. Zelenskyy also questioned how the concept of a free trade zone — proposed by the U.S. — would work in the Donbas region, which Russia insists Kyiv must give up for peace.
He said the Americans want peace as quickly as possible and that the U.S. team wants to sign all the agreements on Ukraine at the same time, whereas Ukraine wants guarantees for the country’s future security signed first.
Zelenskyy’s concerns were echoed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Unless we have real security guarantees on whatever peace agreement is ultimately determined, we are going to be here again, because one of the things we know is that Russia has geared up not just for Ukraine, but to go beyond Ukraine,” she told reporters in Munich on Sunday.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia was hoping to win diplomatically what it had failed to achieve on the battlefield, and was banking on the U.S. to deliver concessions at the negotiating table. But Kallas told the Munich conference Sunday that key Russian demands — including the lifting of sanctions and unfreezing of assets — were decisions for Europe.
“If we want a sustainable peace then we need concessions also from the Russian side,” she said.
Previous U.S.-led efforts to find consensus on ending the war, most recently two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, have failed to resolve difficult issues, such as the future of Ukraine’s Donbas industrial heartland that is largely occupied by Russian forces.
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32 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's not safe to try to wipe a country off of the map.
Mr Kipling
Peace talks? Or how much of Ukraine is to be given to Russia talks?
Underworld
Mr Kipling
Neither. Russia is sending the historian, so they aren't serious.
Also, Zelensky uncovered the $12 trillion US-Russia projects and looks like they may now be stalled. So Russia isn't in a good mood for talks.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Even if Ukraine lost double what it has, it will still be a win if the aggressor is left not being able to run Ukraine.
Fos
Lets recall few historical facts
Russia demanded the fulfillment of the U.N.- backed Minsk II Agreement, which called for autonomy of the ethnic-Russian Donbas, not a Russian claim on the territory. Yet instead of diplomacy, the U.S. armed, trained, and helped to organize a huge Ukrainian army to make NATO enlargement a fait accompli.
The Russians defended themselves, as they have done against every threat and invasion from the west for almost a century.
Underworld
Fos
And yet the last invasion of Russia was from Germany in WW2.
However, since the USSR has dissolved, Russia has attacked Chechnya, parts of Georgia, annexed Crimea, started a war in the Donbas.
It is easy to see that the west isn't the aggressor, it is Russia.
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukraine better get serious ASAP, and sign peace deal, as the clock's ticking. Below from the "Independent"
HopeSpringsEternal
Another reason Ukraine needs to sign a peace deal ASAP, see below, Ukraine's economy has collapsed, no energy, record numbers fleeing abroad, etc.
And Kiev is far better off than the rest of Ukraine.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Let's recall a few historical facts: this is Putin's War.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Little Marco trying to act tough.
The fact is that the US isn't giving Ukraine any weapons or money, so they have little leverage to get Ukraine to do anything. Even intelligence sharing is less crucial with France taking over a big part of that job.
Fos
Accurate information plays a fundamental role
The United States has not only sent weapons directly to Ukraine (hundreds of billions worth) but has also structured much of its military aid to Europe in ways that benefit American defense contractors and encourage European countries to buy U.S.- made weapons.
The Department of War has allocated billions more to European allies, both to backfill their own stockpiles (after they send weapons to Ukraine) and to incentivize them to purchase American-made arms. Much of this money flows back to U.S. defense contractors.
Moreover Washington has used foreign Military Financing (FMF) to fund European countries’ purchases of American weapons. This money is spent on U.S. defense industries, not directly on Ukraine.
When the U.S. sends weapons from its own stockpiles to Ukraine, U.S. Congress allocates funds to replace them- again, mostly through contracts with U.S. defense companies. In summary, much of the money staying within the American military-industrial complex.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Accurate information plays a fundamental role: fending off the disgusting aggressor is the most noble thing the US could be doing but Trump is only making us available for purchases.
HopeSpringsEternal
Europe's seeing the light, they also require strategic stability with Russia, the Ukraine proxy war is not sustainable and only acts to further damage EU security, clearly their confidence in Zelensky/Ukraine is 'fraying'
Below from the major French newspaper La Monde
TaiwanIsNotChina
Europe is seeing the light: they cannot afford to see the russian on the Danube Commission again.
HopeSpringsEternal
If these Peace negotiations fail, Trump Admin will kill the PEARL weapons program and cut all intel to Ukraine, as Trump Admin will not be party to a WWIII NATO agenda
Ukraine's out of time, manpower, money and support, both at home and abroad, nobody is increasing support, while many are cutting it, as WWIII over Donbas = Insane
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
It's PURL not PEARL. And that would be unlikely, because Trump still wants to make money.
Up steps France to give Ukraine intel.
What are you talking about?
This is just false. Ukraine have stated that they do not have a manpower problem. You know does have a manpower problem? Russia. Ukraine are now taking out more Russians monthly than are replaced.
The Munich Security Conference showed that Ukraine enjoys solid support and the realization that support for Ukraine means European security.
JJE
Maps are not sacred.
Borders can and do change.
That is a provable fact.
isabelle
Yes, because Trump doesn't care about a just peace: he wants anything he can sell as a quick "win" whilst completely ignoring the fact that Russia is the aggressor.
The best way to bring "peace as quickly as possible" is by providing overwhelming military, economic, and political support for Ukraine to drive out the Russian invaders from their sovereign lands.
Exactly true. The problem is that Trump neither understands nor cares about this, plus bizarrely admires Putin and wants to please him.
HopeSpringsEternal
This 'war' dates back to 2014, as a result many millions of former Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens have fought for and achieved their legal Russian Citizenship
Above is a tragedy for the region, but in no way justifies the global harm it's caused and causing, dividing the world, destroying currency real purchasing power, thus fueling inflation and for now over what? Less than 10% of what remains Ukrainian controlled Donbas?
China and NK are the two biggest beneficiaries of this proxy war continuing, Japan, SK, Taiwan and Ukraine the biggest losers, Russia's become ENRICHED, US$ now buys 3X LESS 'real' assets, while Ukraine's Destroyed
Peace will happen, because above not sustainable, Ukraine's collapsed, failed state, nobody has confidence in corrupt Zelenskyy regime as the scandal widens
isabelle
Russia's war to change those borders is illegal. That is a provable fact.
I look forward to reading your comments when Xi does the same to you in a few years, once Putin has sufficiently weakened your country.
...
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/leaked-russian-spy-memo-claims-china-plotting-secret-land-grab-inside-russian-borders/ar-AA1GozQT
A leaked document from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has sparked fears that China may be eyeing parts of its Far East for future annexation, including the vital port city of Vladivostok.
The eight-page memo paints a starkly different picture of the Kremlin's public appearance with Beijing, exposing deep-seated concerns over Chinese territorial aspirations.
The report alleges that President Vladimir Putin's security services are wary of China "trying to encroach" on Russian soil, masquerading as an effort to strengthen bilateral relations. Believed to have been written in late 2023 or early 2024, the FSB document was drafted by an intelligence unit not previously known and labels China as "the enemy".
JJE
Everything is legal under Russian law and doctrine.
Indeed, Moscow said, in absence of a Munich address, that it reserves the right to wipe out national security threats.
We can see some of the senior people bottom last two photos.
okinawarides
TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 07:52 am JST
Even if Ukraine lost double what it has, it will still be a win if the aggressor is left not being able to run Ukraine.
Good, in that case Zelensky should have no trouble signing the peace deal, Putin gets to run Donbas, Zelensky the rest of Ukraine. No more casualties. Win , win. Now if only Brussels would stop interfering and trying to keep the war going.
isabelle
Russian law applies only in Russia. Not in Ukraine or anywhere else.
Again, I look forward to your reaction when Xi insists Chinese law applies in Vladivostok.
Underworld
okinawarides
Even if Ukraine lost double what it has, it will still be a win if the aggressor is left not being able to run Ukraine.
Your problem is not getting Zelenskyy to sign, but getting Putin to sign.
Except for the parts that Ukraine currently occupy.
How is Brussels interfering?
okinawarides
Little Marco trying to act tough. The fact is that the US isn't giving Ukraine any weapons or money, so they have little leverage to get Ukraine to do anything. Even intelligence sharing is less crucial with France taking over a big part of that job.
The fact is, everyone serious knows that nobody has more leverage over Kyiv than Washington. Silly to gaslight and pretend otherwise.
okinawarides
Your problem is not getting Zelenskyy to sign, but getting Putin to sign.
Not really, Kremlin made it clear they are ready to sign a comprehensive peace deal.
"In recent statements from late 2025 and early 2026, President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is ready to conclude a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine. Putin has indicated that a 28-point U.S. peace proposal, drafted under the Trump administration, would serve as a "basis for the agreement."
Underworld
okinawarides
Little Marco trying to act tough. The fact is that the US isn't giving Ukraine any weapons or money, so they have little leverage to get Ukraine to do anything. Even intelligence sharing is less crucial with France taking over a big part of that job.
Well, I wouldn't argue with that, but if Trump thinks that he can threaten Zelenskyy into signing the deal or else, he is likely to see Zelenskyy refusing to sign if it isn't what is good for Ukraine.
Underworld
okinawarides
Your problem is not getting Zelenskyy to sign, but getting Putin to sign.
What Putin says and what Putin does are different things.
And the 28-point U.S. peace proposal has long been relegated to the dustbin.
And the fact that Putin is sending the "historian" to the next peace talks indicates that he is not serious.
okinawarides
"Taiwan, Even if Ukraine lost double what it has, it will still be a win if the aggressor is left not being able to run Ukraine."
So you have quietly abandoned the "Russians will be driven out of Donbas and Crimea " narrative and shifted the goal posts. Well, at least your new line is bit more in sync with reality. Peace could be in sight based on that.
okinawarides
Underworld,
Well, I wouldn't argue with that, but if Trump thinks that he can threaten Zelenskyy into signing the deal or else, he is likely to see Zelenskyy refusing to sign if it isn't what is good for Ukraine.
That is possible, but isn't peace and start of rebuilding what is best for Ukraine? Why and how do you think Trump is threatening Zelensky into signing the deal rather than outlining his options?
HopeSpringsEternal
No reason to suppress latest news on expanding Zelenskyy Admin Corruption probe, worldwide news, clearly greatly weakening Zelenskyy with all stakeholders, making Peace more likely and why EU leaders now seeking to engage Putin directly etc.
Confidence in Zelenskyy is collapsing, as is Ukraine
HopeSpringsEternal
PEARL looks better than PURL! But US support to vanish if no Peace achieved, France and rest of what remains of divided NATO, cannot fully replace US intel & other critical support, as NATO Member 'stocks' are bare
Zelenskyy caught up in a widening corruption scandal, lights and energy are off and his support at home and abroad busy drying up, so Peace, only option, Zelenskyy waited TOO Long, Ukraine's now a basket case