Newsblog on the Ukraine war: Ukraine peace talks are apparently on oil

Many reports about the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, come from Ukrainian or Russian authorities and cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates Ukraine peace talks are to be linked to a large oil deal Russia announces attacks on Kyiv and demands foreigners leave the city Selenskij: Ukraine uses new ballistic missiles for the first time Russia shoots Kyiv with missiles and drones, Ukraine reports dead and wounded Selenskij promises relief against Russian jet drones Anna Lea Jakobs Ukraine peace talks are to be linked to a large oil deal According to a newspaper report, the talks between the US government and Russia on an end to the war in Ukraine have expanded to involve multi-billion dollar oil deals. Businesspeople with ties to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would benefit from these deals, reported the New York Times. The possible deal, which depends on the approval of the US government and the Kremlin, concerns a global network of oil fields, refineries, and gas stations of the Russian energy giant Lukoil. The group seeking the deal includes two companies from the Middle East, in addition to US billionaire Todd Boehly, which have already conducted business with Kushner or Witkoff's families, according to the newspaper. The US government itself would also be involved. The White House, the US Department of the Treasury, and Lukoil did not respond to requests for a statement. There are currently no signs, according to the New York Times, that Kushner and Witkoff are financially benefiting from the deal. According to a source from the US newspaper, Putin himself had proposed the deal to show his people that Russia could do business with the US. The deal would include oil fields in Cameroon, refineries in Europe, and gas stations in New Jersey, among other things. The possible deal, which depends on the approval of the US government and the Kremlin, concerns a global network of oil fields, refineries, and gas stations of the Russian energy giant Lukoil. The group seeking the deal includes two companies from the Middle East, in addition to US billionaire Todd Boehly, which have already conducted business with Kushner or Witkoff's families, according to the newspaper. The US government itself would also be involved. The White House, the US Department of the Treasury, and Lukoil did not respond to requests for a statement. There are currently no signs, according to the New York Times, that Kushner and Witkoff are financially benefiting from the deal. According to a source from the US newspaper, Putin himself had proposed the deal to show his people that Russia could do business with the US. The deal would include oil fields in Cameroon, refineries in Europe, and gas stations in New Jersey, among other things. Russia announces attacks on Kyiv and demands foreigners leave the city After Russia announced further targeted retaliatory attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, it demands foreigners and diplomats to leave the capital. In response to the "terrorist acts" of the Ukrainian armed forces against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, the Russian army continues its systematic attacks on military facilities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow reported. The Ministry warned foreign citizens and diplomatic personnel against staying in Ukraine. "The responsibility for any adverse consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning," it was said in the statement. Russia has recently intensified its attacks on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. In an air raid on Saturday, a bridge over the Dnipro River was hit. The increasing attacks significantly affect the lives of the three million inhabitants of Kyiv ahead of the coming winter months. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this week that Ukraine is paying the price for its own attacks on Russia. In recent months, both sides have intensified their attacks on grain ships in the Black Sea. In addition, Russian oil refineries and other facilities are repeatedly under Ukrainian bombardment. Civilians also died by Ukrainian drones in Russian border regions. Both Russia and Ukraine reject the accusation of targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure. Russia has recently intensified its attacks on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. In an air raid on Saturday, a bridge over the Dnipro River was hit. The increasing attacks significantly affect the lives of the three million inhabitants of Kyiv ahead of the coming winter months. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this week that Ukraine is paying the price for its own attacks on Russia. In recent months, both sides have intensified their attacks on grain ships in the Black Sea. In addition, Russian oil refineries and other facilities are repeatedly under Ukrainian bombardment. Civilians also died by Ukrainian drones in Russian border regions. Both Russia and Ukraine reject the accusation of targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure. Selenskij announces intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries According to President Volodymyr Selenskij, Ukraine wants to intensify its attacks on oil refineries in Russia. This is a reaction to a new Russian tactic to force the inhabitants of Kyiv and other cities to flee, Selenskij told the Reuters news agency. "We must react to their attacks on our energy," Selenskij said. "Especially on oil refineries: that is what brings them money for this war." Selenskij explained that the Ukrainian intelligence services have documents about a "new doctrine" from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "We have seen documents and we know that they allow attacks on infrastructure (...) roads, schools, hospitals, to put people under pressure to leave the capital and other cities," Selenskij said. Russia had recently attacked the bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv for the first time. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on foreigners to leave Kyiv. Representatives of Ukraine explained that Russia had stored hundreds of ballistic missiles to specifically attack Ukraine's electricity and water supply in the coming winter. Selenskij stated that Ukraine will not attack civilian targets in contrast to Russia. Russia also denies targeting civilian objects. Selenskij said that Putin wants to demonstrate strength by expanding attacks on civilian targets as his troops are losing ground on the front. Selenskij explained that the Ukrainian intelligence services have documents about a "new doctrine" from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "We have seen documents and we know that they allow attacks on infrastructure (...) roads, schools, hospitals, to put people under pressure to leave the capital and other cities," Selenskij said. Russia had recently attacked the bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv for the first time. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on foreigners to leave Kyiv. Representatives of Ukraine explained that Russia had stored hundreds of ballistic missiles to specifically attack Ukraine's electricity and water supply in the coming winter. Moldova reports strikes by Russian drones and missiles According to Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Russian drones have struck Moldovan territory. "Five Russian air attack weapons, including 'Banderol' missiles and drones, have violated our airspace and exploded on our ground," Sandu wrote on the X platform. According to the army, explosions were heard in the southeast. There were no reports of injuries or damage at first; air raid alarms were reported in the neighboring Ukrainian city of Odesa at those times. Russia hits Liberian cargo ship off Odessa: one dead Russia has attacked a cargo ship flying the Liberian flag in a Black Sea port in the Odesa region, according to the Ukrainian port administration. The incident resulted in one death and three other injuries, the administration reported via Telegram. 13 other crew members were put to safety. Russia has effectively resumed its blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports since the summer. This has affected trade routes and restricted grain and steel exports. Kyiv: Russia hits bridge again According to Ukrainian sources, Russia has again damaged an important bridge in Kyiv. The north bridge over the Dnipro River was hit by recent Russian air attacks and is now closed to traffic, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. There were no reports of casualties. In recent days, the southern bridge was also hit several times by Russian drones. Many inhabitants of the Ukrainian capital live east of the river and commute to work to the west side. Russia has repeatedly emphasized that its attacks are not directed against the civilian population. The sea blockade: Ukrainian agricultural exports have halved Due to the Black Sea ports blocked by Russia, Ukrainian agricultural exports have been halved - the Minister of Agriculture names dramatic figures: "This means that we cannot export about 30 million tons of agricultural products worth around 30 billion US dollars (about 26 billion euros) in the current fiscal year (2026/2027)," said Minister of Agriculture Taras Wyssozkyj according to a report from Interfax-Ukraine. In September, exports fell to 2.4 million tons or 46 percent of planned shipments. Of this, 1.4 million tons were grain. 54 percent of agricultural exports are currently flowing through the Donau ports of the country. Another 41 percent of agricultural goods are transported by rail and the remaining 5 percent by road. "In September, compared to August, we increased the transport volumes both by rail and on the Donau," the Minister explained. In early July, the Ukrainian military began attacking ships in the Black and Azov Seas, attacking Russian-controlled ports with drones. More than 300 tankers and cargo ships have damaged Kyiv, according to Ukrainian sources since then. In return, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and the Donau and also on ships. This largely brought maritime traffic to a standstill in the Ukrainian and Russian Black Sea ports. Russia is trying to redirect some of its grain exports to other ports in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Both countries together usually have a world market share of up to 30 percent, especially for wheat. Important destination countries are in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Grain is loaded onto a truck on a Ukrainian farm. In September, the country could only export 1.4 million tons of grain. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters Russian air attacks hit bridges in Kyiv again Russian air attacks have again hit the southern bridge in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported this on the Telegram news service. The day before, Russian drone attacks had already caused fires on a school and the bridge over the Dnipro River in the capital. The three-million city could now face a traffic collapse. At further Russian drone attacks, at least one person was killed in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Two others were wounded, the city administration reported on Telegram. According to the information, a drone struck a residential building in the eastern part of the city. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow states that the targets included a road and railway bridge over the Dnipro River in Kyiv, a power station in the capital region, and an industrial complex at the Ismajil port in the Odesa region. The bridge in Kyiv was used for transporting troops and military equipment to the Donbass. The facility in Ismajil served to supply the Ukrainian army with military goods and fuel. In addition, a cargo ship in the Black Sea was hit, which was transporting armaments and civilian as well as military-usable goods to the port of Odesa. The Russian government stated that the strikes also affected a research center of the Ukrainian armed forces in Kyiv, power plants in the surrounding area, as well as industrial facilities in the Odesa region and port facilities in Ismajil. The Russian military in Moscow had previously spoken of attacks on the power plant of Vyschgorod north of Kyiv, the heating power plant Tripillja in the south, and a power station. The Nasa website Firms, which monitor fires worldwide by satellite, recorded fires at these locations. Firefighters extinguish a fire that broke out in a house in Kyiv after a Russian drone attack. Photo: Gleb Garanich/Reuters