The chief engineer revealed the details of the Russian tanker being detained, and the future direction of Russian-Ukrainian relations attracted attention.

　　　　　　 CCTV News:On the 25th, the National Security Agency of Ukraine announced that it had detained a Russian oil tanker in the port of Izmir in southern Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian military procuratorate. Later on the 25th, 10 crew members of the detained Russian oil tanker were released and flew to Moscow in the early morning of the 26th, but the oil tanker was still detained by Uzbekistan. The Russian side said that this move is a provocative act of Ukraine.　

　　　　　　 Sputnik news agency & radio No.26 quoted Sergei Carpau, the chief engineer of the Russian oil tanker, as saying that the staff of the Ukrainian National Security Agency spoke Russian when they detained the Russian oil tanker in Izmir Port, but only asked some questions and did not beat or scold the crew.

　　　　　　 The Ukrainian National Security Agency said that the detained Russian oil tanker participated in intercepting Ukrainian naval vessels in the Kerch Strait on November 25 last year, and assisted the Russian border guards in detaining Ukrainian vessels and 24 crew members. Uzbekistan said that it hopes to find relevant evidence of the "conflict in the Ukrainian Kerch Strait". However, in their investigation, they did not find that the Russian crew had ever participated in illegal activities, so they have allowed the crew to return to Russia. However, the Russian oil tanker is still being detained in Izmir Port.

　　　　　　 In response to the incident of the Russian oil tanker being detained, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Carracin said on the 25th that Russia believed that some people in Ukraine wanted to continue the provocative actions taken against Russia in the Kerch Strait last year. The Russian side will investigate the matter in detail. Colin Cevic, a member of the National Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Federation Council, also said that the release of the detained Russian crew members does not mean that the matter is over, and Russia demands that the oil tanker be returned immediately.

　　　　　　 On November 25 last year, Russia and Ukraine clashed in the Kerch Strait. Russian border guards detained three Ukrainian naval vessels and Ukrainian military personnel on board. Both sides have their own words on this incident. Since then, Ukraine has declared that 10 regions adjacent to Russia have entered a "state of war". Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are escalating.

　　　　　　 Ten crew members of the Russian oil tanker detained by Ukraine arrived in Moscow on the early morning of 26th, but the oil tanker was still detained by Ukraine. Although there are still many details about the arrest, the timing is very delicate. Because Ukrainian President Zelensky recently telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the release of Ukrainian detainees in the Kerch Strait incident and proposed to meet with Putin to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Putin also said that he would not refuse any form of talks. Some analysts pointed out that the arrest of the ship occurred when Russia and Ukraine may start negotiations on eastern Ukraine, which not only reflected the political game in Ukraine, but also cast a shadow over the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and the relaxation of bilateral relations.

　　　　　　 Some analysts believe that Russia’s response to the incident of the oil tanker being detained this time is cautious and restrained, and it is not hoped that this incident will undermine the prospect of the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian heads of state. At present, the diplomatic settlement process of the eastern Ukraine issue is deadlocked, and both Russia and Ukraine hope to make a difference.

　　　　　　 From Russia’s point of view, Putin needs to show the West his positive attitude in solving the problem of eastern Ukraine, so as to urge the West to reduce or even lift sanctions against Russia. In addition, the economic development and people’s life in eastern Ukraine are facing difficulties, which requires a large number of blood transfusions from Russia, causing a huge burden on Russia. Therefore, Russia hopes to persuade Ukraine to lift the blockade through negotiations.

　　　　　　 From Uzbekistan’s point of view, Zelensky needs to fulfill its promise to achieve peace in the eastern region through diplomatic means during the election campaign.

　　　　　　 Analysts believe that the issue of eastern Ukraine involves Ukraine’s core interests, and there is a geopolitical game between Russia and the West behind it, and its diplomatic settlement process still faces many challenges. Even if Zelensky and Putin can meet, they are unlikely to reach an agreement on major issues such as the autonomous status of eastern Ukraine, and they can only make concessions on some minor technical issues. However, affected by the eastern Ukraine issue, it is difficult for Russia-Ukraine relations to improve substantially.