Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist attack” on a Russian LNG tanker that exploded and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya.
The attack on the tanker, which was carrying 61,000 tonnes of LNG and “completely sank” between Libya and Malta, was confirmed by Libyan authorities.
Putin said the attack “exacerbates the situation on global energy markets, including gas markets”. Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to Moscow’s claims.
The Russian president’s statement came as Volodymyr Zelensky said the US-Israeli war on Iran had put a pause to trilateral peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
“We continue to engage with the United States practically on a daily basis. For now, because of the situation with Iran, the necessary signals for a trilateral meeting haven’t come yet,” the Ukrainian president said in an evening address.
“As soon as the security situation and the broader political context allow us to resume the trilateral diplomatic work, it will be done. Ukraine is ready for it.”
