11 sailors were missing after two ships were targeted in the Black Sea

The Kremlin announced today (Tuesday) that contacts regarding a ceasefire on targets linked to the energy sector between Russia and Ukraine, which US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, are still continuing, indicating that it does not see a direct relationship between any potential agreement on Russian diesel exports and Moscow’s position on peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he had nothing to add regarding communications related to stopping targeting energy facilities at the present time, and he did not specify who Russia was negotiating with regarding this file.

Trump had announced a ceasefire on energy targets, and said it would take effect “with immediate effect.” But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the announcement as a surprise to Ukraine, while Russia did not clarify whether it had been informed of it in advance.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Tuesday that its forces did not target any Ukrainian sites related to the energy sector during the attacks it launched at night.

In a related context, Peskov denied the existence of a direct relationship between any potential agreement on Russian diesel exports and Moscow's position on the peace talks on Ukraine.

His statements came as a comment on a Reuters report, citing sources, that envoys of the US President informed Ukrainian officials on Friday that allowing Russia to export quantities of diesel comes as part of an effort to bring it back to the negotiating table to reach a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French Navy intercepted yesterday (Monday) a ship “suspected of sailing under a false flag” and “involved” in “fuel transportation” operations “south of the French island of La Reunion,” located in the Indian Ocean.

Macron said via “X”: “This morning (Monday), the National Navy intercepted the oil tanker DF Peak at a distance of more than 450 nautical miles south of the island of La Reunion,” according to what Agence France-Presse reported.

Macron showed footage of the operation and stressed that “France is determined to combat the shadow fleet,” a term used to refer to the ships that Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions.

The Benin-flagged oil tanker DF Peak has been on the European Union's list of ships subject to sanctions, and has been suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet since June 25, 2024, when it was named "Kaliningrad."

For its part, the French Armed Forces General Staff reported via “X” that “a document audit conducted by the inspection team after boarding the ship confirmed suspicions about the irregularity of the flag raised on it,” explaining that “the ship’s course was diverted under the accompaniment of units from the National Navy.”

There are more than 700 ships currently on the European sanctions list. Ships suspected of being used by Russia to export fuel, despite US, British and European sanctions, sometimes change their names or flags to circumvent oversight processes.

On Tuesday, the European Union will open two new negotiating chapters with Ukraine, which represents an essential step in the long path for Kiev to join the bloc, according to what Agence France-Presse reported.

On Monday, the Ukrainian Parliament approved legislation signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky guaranteeing the rights of national minorities, removing a major obstacle to the country’s efforts to join the European Union.

The situation of the Hungarian-speaking minority in western Ukraine has long been a source of tension with Budapest, which has obstructed Kiev's accession to the European Union, since it formally applied for membership days after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

On Monday, European Council President Antonio Costa welcomed “the decision of the European Union member states today to open two additional negotiating groups with Ukraine and Moldova.”

He added: “We look forward to opening all remaining negotiating groups as soon as possible.” He continued: “Your future is within the European Union. Let's keep the momentum going.”

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban praised the step, considering it a “necessary condition” for her country’s agreement to start a new round of Ukrainian-European talks.

For his part, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Madiar said that the passage of the law constitutes a “positive indicator.”

Countries seeking to join the bloc must embark on extensive reforms to comply with EU standards in multiple areas, from environmental policy to agriculture.

Thirty-five negotiating chapters must be completed before the twenty-seven member states take a unanimous decision to accept a new member into the bloc.

Final approval of membership requires the approval of each member state, whether through parliament or popular referendum.