Ukraine war briefing: Putin envoy says US better understands importance of Russian oil amid energy crisis
Ukraine War Briefing: Putin Envoy Says US Better Understands Importance of Russian Oil Amid Energy Crisis
In a recent update, Vladimir Putin’s envoy has noted that Washington is “beginning to better understand” the significance of Russian oil, following a “fruitful discussion” with US representatives regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Russian negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, shared his insights in a Telegram post, highlighting the focus on projects that might help revive Russian-American ties and address global energy market instability.
Discussions held in Florida on Thursday did not involve Ukrainian delegates, according to Dmitriev. These talks occurred just hours before the US announced a 30-day permit for countries to import Russian oil and petroleum products stranded at sea, aiming to ease tensions in energy markets affected by the Iran war. Earlier this week, the US had already eased some sanctions on Russian oil, a decision that drew criticism for potentially replenishing Russia’s war funding.
Meanwhile, Hungary returned two captured armored vehicles to Ukraine on Thursday but kept millions in cash and gold, citing an investigation into potential money laundering. Kyiv condemned this move as theft, as relations between the two nations hit a new low last week when Hungary detained seven Ukrainians transporting financial assets. The EU Commission confirmed that the detained individuals were expelled and re-entered Ukraine on Friday.
The EU has proposed inspecting the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukraine, with a spokesperson awaiting Ukraine’s response. Since late January, Russian oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia via the pipeline have been halted, with Kyiv blaming a Russian strike and Slovakia and Hungary attributing the outage to Ukrainian negligence.
“At night, there were renewed attempts to attack the Russkaya compressor station with drones,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, labeling the pipeline an “international facility” crucial to Turkey’s energy security. “These are absolutely reckless actions by the Kyiv regime,” he added.
As the conflict progresses, Ukraine has opened its battlefield data to allies for training drone AI systems, as defense minister Andriy Kostin stated. This initiative aligns with global militaries adopting automated tools to guide drones or analyze vast data sets. Foreign entities have sought access to these datasets, which are vital for teaching AI to identify patterns and behaviors on the front lines.
Additionally, the European Commission warned of cutting funding for the Venice Biennale if it proceeds with Russian participation. Organizers had previously confirmed Russia’s inclusion, prompting Ukrainian accusations that the event is providing a platform for “whitewashing war crimes.” Romania and Ukraine also signed an agreement to co-produce defense systems, including drones, in the country. Romania, sharing a 650-km border with Ukraine, has faced Russian attacks on its Danube River ports and drone incursions into its airspace.
