Russia Strikes Ukrainian Port, Escalating Conflict Amid Peace Talks

A Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine, killed eight people and wounded 27, according to Ukraine's emergency service. The attack occurred late Friday, with some of the wounded being on a bus at the center of the strike.

The port was hit with ballistic missiles, as reported by Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region. Moscow has not acknowledged the attack, but the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it struck transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces.

In retaliation, Ukrainian drones targeted a Russian oil rig and a military patrol ship in the Caspian Sea, with the extent of the damage still being assessed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the outcome of ongoing peace talks with the U.S. would be crucial for Ukraine's future.

Zelenskyy, speaking alongside Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, emphasized the importance of defense cooperation, including a joint production agreement for maritime drones. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is continuing diplomatic efforts to end the war, with a Kremlin envoy set to meet Trump's envoy and his son-in-law in Miami to discuss U.S. security guarantees and other aspects of the proposed peace plan.

European Union leaders have agreed to provide $106 billion to Ukraine for military and economic needs over the next two years, while the IMF estimates that Ukraine will require $161 billion by 2026 and 2027.

The war has now entered its nearly four-year mark, leading to dire humanitarian conditions in Ukraine.