Rubio says Ukraine has repeatedly struck vessels linked to US
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said vessels linked to the United States have repeatedly been targeted by Ukraine in recent months and that this cannot be allowed to continue.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty citing Marco Rubio on X (Twitter)
Details: Speaking on Fox News on 22 September, Rubio said a so-called energy ceasefire in Ukraine, under which Russia would refrain from striking Ukrainian infrastructure and Ukraine would refrain from striking Russian infrastructure, is a good idea.
He also said that, over the past several months, "on a number of occasions American-linked ships… have been targeted… by Ukraine", as had oil shipments.
Rubio said the attacks had probably been not deliberate, but this is an issue that "needs to be addressed".
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet in New York on 23 September.
The US side neither confirmed nor denied that a meeting had been agreed, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Background:
- Since July 2026, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) have disabled 300 vessels belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet.
- Türkiye, meanwhile, is holding talks with Russia and Ukraine on the safe passage of grain ships through the Black Sea. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said earlier that Ankara has developed a relevant plan.
- As of 23 July, inbound vessel traffic to Ukraine's Black Sea ports has been suspended due to the threat of Russian attacks. This followed weeks of air attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
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