title:Krievija

Russia‘s Cargo Ship "Ursa Major" Sinks in Mediterranean Sea Between Spain and Algeria

In a dramatic turn of events, the Russian cargo ship "Ursa Major" has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, according to Spanish media reports. The vessel, which was formerly used to supply Russian military forces in Syria, encountered an explosion in its machinery room on Monday.

A complex rescue operation, involving multiple ships and led by a Russian naval vessel, was launched in response. Out of the 16 crew members on board, 14 were successfully rescued and transported to Cartagena, Spain. Unfortunately, two crew members remain missing.

The "Ursa Major" captain asserted that the ship was carrying empty containers at the time of the incident. The vessel had departed from St. Petersburg on December 11, bound for Vladivostok, with an expected arrival date of January 22.

Independent Russian media outlet "Mediazona" reports that "Ursa Major" was owned by the Russian Defense Ministry’s logistics company "Oboronlogistika" and had been transporting supplies to Russia’s military contingent in Syria for several years.

The fate of the "Ursa Major" and its crew has highlighted the ongoing maritime challenges faced by Russia’s military operations in the Middle East, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and potential safety issues.

Headline: Slovakia’s Fico Meets Putin, Reiterates Gas Transit Demands

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico affirmed his country’s stance on Russian gas supplies following a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Fico took to Facebook to announce the meeting, stating that he had informed European Union leaders beforehand.

During the meeting, Fico discussed Zelensky’s recent stance against gas transit via Ukraine to Slovakia. The Ukrainian President had expressed opposition to any transit after 2025, when the current five-year agreement expires. Fico, however, stressed that Slovakia’s interest lies in maintaining its energy security, which is heavily reliant on nuclear power.

Fico revealed that Putin reassured him of Russia’s commitment to gas supplies to Western countries even after the current agreement’s expiration. They also touched upon the military situation in Ukraine, prospects for a peaceful resolution, and bilateral relations, which Fico hopes to "standardize."

The Russian gas supply to several European countries, including Slovakia, via Ukraine continues under the terms of the 2020 agreement. However, Zelensky’s recent declaration to not renew this deal has raised concerns. Fico insists that the Ukrainian President’s stance jeopardizes Slovakia’s interests.

The current gas transit agreement between Ukraine’s Naftogaz and Russia’s Gazprom expires at the end of this year. Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is only willing to transit non-Russian gas, a stance that puts further strain on the situation.

Slovakia has taken proactive steps to secure its gas supply, signing a pilot agreement to purchase Azeri gas and reaching a deal for American liquefied natural gas via Poland. Additionally, it can access gas supplies through Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, opening possibilities for imports from other countries like Germany.

high-ranking EU leaders’ visits and calls to Putin have been scarce since Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine. In July, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán visited Russia, and Austria’s Karl Nehammer met with Putin soon after the full-scale invasion began, both actions drawing criticism from Kiev and other EU leaders.

Orbán, often seen as having the closest ties to Putin among EU leaders, has regularly obstructed, delayed, or weakened EU efforts to aid Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow. He has consistently advocated for a ceasefire in Ukraine but has not clarified what this would mean for the country’s territorial integrity and future security.

In an October interview with Russian state-run TV channel Rossiya-1, Fico criticized the West for "prolonging the war" and offered support to Ukraine. He also dismissed sanctions against Russia as ineffective. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Fico’s working visit and meeting with Putin, with discussions centering around the international situation and Russian gas supplies.

Fico’s visit was condemned by Slovakia’s main opposition parties. Since assuming the premiership last year, Slovakia has stopped providing military aid to Ukraine. Fico is one of the few EU leaders who have maintained friendly ties with the Kremlin since the renewed invasion of Ukraine. In November, he announced that he had accepted Putin’s invitation to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow.