Ukraine Hits Back: Striking Russian Tankers and Seeking Peace

In a bold move, Ukraine has taken its fight against Russia to the Mediterranean Sea. The country's intelligence agency, the SBU, claims to have struck a Russian oil tanker, part of what's known as the "shadow fleet. " This fleet is accused of helping Russia dodge sanctions and fund its war efforts. The tanker, named Qendil, was reportedly empty at the time of the strike, which Ukraine says was a first-of-its-kind operation. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been talking tough. He says Ukraine isn't ready for peace talks, but he's open to negotiations—on his terms. Those terms include Ukraine giving up territory and reducing its military power. Ukraine has rejected these ideas in the past. Putin also claimed that Russian forces are making progress in the conflict, advancing along the front line in eastern Ukraine. He made these remarks during a live news conference, a tradition he's kept over the years.While all this is happening, there's tension among European nations about how to support Ukraine. They've agreed to a financial package worth over $100 billion, but they couldn't agree on using frozen Russian assets to fund it. Instead, they've taken out an interest-free loan against their own budget. Putin has threatened severe consequences if European nations use the frozen Russian money. He's accused them of "daylight robbery" and warned of grave consequences. Despite these threats, European leaders have stood firm, with some even praising the agreement reached. Ukraine has welcomed the deal but made it clear that it still wants access to Russia's frozen assets to support its defense. The country's deputy foreign minister called the agreement a "workable result, " acknowledging that it might not be perfect but it's a step in the right direction.