Russia and Ukraine step up attacks ahead of negotiations

Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on strategic targets in the Black Sea, threatening both countries’ grain and oil exports. On Thursday, Russia’s military said it had struck a cargo ship carrying military equipment about 52 kilometres southwest of Odesa. Moscow has reportedly intensified strikes in recent weeks, following months of Ukrainian attacks on vessels travelling to or from Russian ports on the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. US-mediated talks are scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi; Volodymyr Zelensky has made lifting the Black Sea blockade a priority for Kyiv.