Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack on one of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels.which exploded and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya. Explosions were reported on the Arctic Metagaz, which was carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, on Tuesday night when the ship was about 150 miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Libya. Ukraine has not commented on the sinking of the ship, which had been under US and EU sanctions. Russia’s Transport Ministry had claimed that the Arctic metagaz had been hit by Ukrainian drones launched from the Libyan coast.
Ukrainian drones damaged Russian civilian sites in the southwestern Saratov regionRoman Busgarin, governor of the area, said early Thursday. Saratov Airport and other airports in the southern and central regions were closed late Wednesday and early Thursday. Three injuries were reported.
A prolonged energy crisis caused by the widening war in the Middle East may offer the Russian war machine an economic lifeline. just when it was beginning to show signs of tension over its war in Ukraine. Russia could receive a windfall if disruption in the Middle East pushes buyers toward its energy, while a possible slowdown in Western arms supplies to Ukraine as US military action in Iran continues could give Russia an additional boost.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that trilateral talks with Washington and Moscow on ending Ukraine’s war against Russia would resume, once the situation in Iran and the Middle East allows it. The Ukrainian president also said that on Wednesday he spoke with the king of Bahrain and the crown prince of Kuwait about the conflict in the Middle East.
Ukraine has said it will boycott Friday’s Paralympic Games opening ceremony in Milan-Cortina, Italy, for the participation of Russian athletes. Athletes from Russia and Belarus had been banned from participating in the 2022 Winter Paralympics due to their war in Ukraine, but were allowed to compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Poland would join Ukraine in its boycott on Friday.
