As top-level diplomatic talks grow more serious, Ukraine has also increased its attacks on Russia's war economy. In a bold move, it has used drones to hit Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea. These two strategies are happening at the same time, showing a complicated new stage in the war where military action and diplomacy are closely connected.
On the diplomatic side, a key meeting took place this Sunday in Florida, USA. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with a Ukrainian team led by Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's new main negotiator. They discussed a detailed American plan to end the war. These complex talks followed an earlier meeting and were partly prompted by the recent leak of a US peace proposal.
Secretary Rubio stressed that the talks were about more than just stopping the fighting. He said they were also about "the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity." Umerov agreed, focusing on "the future of Ukraine" and preventing future attacks. Umerov's appointment adds a political dimension, as he replaced the previous negotiator who resigned during a corruption investigation.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces have taken daring action at sea. On Friday and Saturday, Ukrainian-made "Sea Baby" drone boats attacked two Russian oil tankers near the Turkish coast. These ships, named the *Kairos* and the *Virat*, are part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to avoid Western sanctions. Video shows the drones exploding on impact. Both damaged tankers, which were flying the flag of Gambia, received help from Turkish authorities.
This two-part strategy shows Ukraine's plan to pressure Russia in different ways. The tanker strikes aim to hurt Russia's vital oil income, which funds its military. They also expand the war beyond the land battle. The increased diplomacy, which will include a US envoy traveling to Moscow, suggests important negotiations are happening behind the scenes.
The near future now balances between more violence and possible talks. The drone attacks prove Ukraine can hit Russian economic targets far from the front line. The continued diplomacy, with the US now talking directly to Russia, shows an ongoing search for a political solution. The next few weeks will show if these two paths—one military and one diplomatic—will eventually meet or continue separately in this long war.