Ukraine says arrested Russian agent was plotting attacks

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, announced on Monday that it had detained a Russian military intelligence agent accused of planning attacks against the country.

The agent was specifically accused of planning an attack on the port of Odessa, Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port, and was detained while attempting to recruit someone to carry out the attacks, Reuters reported. 

“(His) main task was to shake up the political situation in the Odessa region through sabotage and terrorist acts,” the SBU said, though the agency did not provide additional details, according to the news service.

The U.S., along with other Western and Ukrainian leaders, has long had concerns regarding Russia’s military buildup and a possible invasion into Ukraine. Though Russia has denied plans of an attack, Moscow has also demanded that NATO not extend to Ukraine a membership invitation to the military alliance, Reuters added. 

The move comes as the U.S. and Russia prepare for talks set to start in Geneva on Monday in an effort to de-escalate the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

“I don’t think we’re gonna see any, any breakthroughs in the coming, in the coming week,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on Sunday of the upcoming talks. 

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said discussions could end after the first meeting.

“I can’t rule out anything, this is an entirely possible scenario and the Americans… should have no illusions about this,” Ryabkov said, according to Russia’s state-owned news agency.