ship entered Turkish waters under escort from the Turkish Coast Guard’s Black Sea Regional Command. The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Moscow. Putin: “If Europe wants war… we are ready right now” Speaking at the VTB Investment Forum in Moscow, and later to reporters, President Vladimir Putin delivered one of his most aggressive statements in months: He accused European nations of deliberately sabotaging US diplomatic attempts to end the war, saying they introduced terms “absolutely unacceptable” to Russia. He warned: “If Europe suddenly wants to fight with us and starts, we are ready right now.” He vowed to escalate attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels . He threatened new “measures” against tankers assisting Ukraine . He claimed Russian troops are in full control of Pokrovsk , and invited foreign journalists to visit the area. Propaganda or Military Victory? Moscow Claims Capture of Pokrovsk Russia has declared that its forces have seized Pokrovsk , a strategically important city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Kyiv immediately rejected the claim, calling it timed for political impact — especially ahead of high-stakes talks between US and Russian officials. Ukrainian sources say Russia may be using the announcement to shape international perceptions, hoping to convince Washington that Moscow’s advance is inevitable. Military analysts caution that if control of Pokrovsk is confirmed, it would mark a significant shift in the battlefield and possibly strengthen Russia’s position at any future negotiations. High-profile meeting underway in Moscow Inside the Kremlin, Putin is meeting with US businessmen Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner . State media released brief footage showing cordial greetings, but no substantial details have emerged after more than three hours of talks. Witkoff was heard telling Putin that Moscow is “a magnificent city.” Putin’s Long White Table Makes a Return Photos from the meeting show the comeback of Putin’s famous six-metre (20-foot) white table — the iconic piece that went viral in 2022 during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Made in Italy by the firm Oak in the 1990s, the table again drew online attention as participants sat widely spaced around it.