Amidst Ceasefire Initiative, Russia Destroys Foreign Vessel with Arms Bound For Ukraine

The Russian military launched a missile strike on Ukraine’s Odessa port, destroying a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship allegedly carrying Western weapons for Ukrainian forces, according to Russian intelligence.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the strike also targeted military infrastructure, including sea launch platforms for American ATACMS missiles and unmanned boats disguised as civilian merchant vessels.

The ministry claimed intelligence was verified before the attack. This strike is part of a broader wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine. In the Nikolaev region, a fire broke out at an industrial facility following another Russian strike. At Boryspil airfield near Kyiv, Russian forces reportedly destroyed aviation fuel reserves.

The Ukrainian airbase in Ozernoye, located in the Zhitomir region, was also targeted for the second time in recent days. This facility had recently resumed operations after undergoing repairs, prompting intensified Russian strikes.

The missile attacks occurred as international efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict continue. European leaders convened in London on Sunday to discuss further support for Ukraine and a possible ceasefire plan.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, hosting the summit at Lancaster House, announced that Britain, France, and Ukraine will draft a ceasefire proposal to present to the United States. The meeting included leaders from France, Poland, Italy, Germany, and other NATO members.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. In comments to La Tribune Dimanche, Macron said, "If Putin is not stopped, he will certainly move on to Moldova and perhaps beyond to Romania."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire without security guarantees. He argued that Russia’s failure to honor a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine after its 2014 invasion convinced him that agreeing to halt fighting without a military-backed enforcement mechanism would be a mistake.

Zelenskyy’s position contrasts with calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies, who advocate for Kyiv to negotiate a ceasefire. Despite a tense Oval Office meeting with Trump on February 28, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the American people but dismissed the need to repair his relationship with the U.S. president.