July 28, 2026, 10:33 p.mJuly 28, 2026, 10:33 p.m
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (archive image)Image: keystone
After the deadly attack on an Iranian cargo ship, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called his Tehran colleague Abbas Araghchi and explained the situation. Sybiha told X that Kiev’s goal is to avoid unnecessary escalation. He made the comments after his visit with Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky to US President Donald Trump in Washington. Ukraine’s attacks are only about defending itself from Russian aggression.
The minister admitted that Ukraine attacked a civilian ship in the Caspian Sea, killing an Iranian national. Accordingly, Sybiha called on his colleague Araghchi to refrain from escalating steps and to stop all support for the Russian war of aggression. “This war is illegal and it must end,” said the minister.
Araghchi strongly condemned the attack on Saturday and threatened retaliation. He accused Zelensky, who had reported the attack, of violating international law and also addressed the EU and Russia.
Moscow: Kyiv endangers security in Kaspi region
Moscow also warned of an escalation. According to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, the ship was traveling with civilian cargo from the Russian port in Astrakhan to Iran. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Kiev of terrorism and endangering security in the Kaspi region.
Russia has been waging a destructive war of aggression against Ukraine for more than four years, including using the Caspian Sea region for attacks. The Ukrainian president, in turn, has long complained that Iran is supporting Russia in the war – for example with drone technology.
With a view to the war in the Middle East, Zelensky again accused Russia of helping Iran, which was attacked by the USA and Israel. Moscow is providing the Iranian military “intensively” with satellite images of the Gulf region, said Zelensky. He had also offered the states in the Middle East help from Ukrainian drone experts in fending off Iranian attacks. (sda/dpa)