Oct 9, 2026, 11:30 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met to discuss options for halting Russian aggression, with both leaders signaling hope that the war could conclude prior to the upcoming winter. Following bilateral discussions, Zelensky described the session as "positive and productive," asserting that joint efforts between Kyiv and Washington could bring a swift resolution to the conflict.

Trump emphasized the necessity for both Ukraine and Russia to negotiate, revealing that he recently held a direct phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump stated he believes Putin desires a settlement, adding, "if Zelensky wants a deal, it would be great." However, concrete parameters for potential peace talks remain unspecified.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted a major oil refinery near Moscow, with Ukrainian officials claiming over half of Russia's refining capacity was affected. The strike coincides with rising diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Oslo, after Kremlin officials accused Norway of "state terrorism" following NATO naval exercises and the detention of a Russian vessel.

Meanwhile, intelligence reports in Germany and Denmark point to Russian hybrid operations targeting transport infrastructure and defense manufacturers. Security analysts note that while Moscow possesses the resources to sustain long-term military operations, its strategic room for maneuver is narrowing. Commentators in the Nordic media argue that European strategic goals ultimately depend on a Russian defeat, while experts urge European governments to remain calm in the face of hybrid threats.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, Dagens Næringsliv (DN), Finansavisen, TV 2 Nyheter

Portugal's parliament has rejected a motion of censure introduced by the right-wing Chega party against the ruling Democratic Alliance coalition. The debate, which lasted over three hours, ended as expected after the governing parties voted against the initiative and the opposition Socialist Party abstained.

Chega brought the motion following recent controversies surrounding the Ministry of Internal Administration. During the proceedings, the executive criticized both Chega and the Socialists. Presidency Minister António Leitão Amaro stated that voters would pass "political judgment" on Chega while maintaining that the government will continue to negotiate legislation on a case-by-case basis without a permanent partner.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

International delegates in Geneva have taken an initial step toward regulating autonomous weapons after 128 countries agreed on a shared definition for machine-directed arms systems. The progress comes alongside joint warnings from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which cautioned that delegated targeting decisions risk breaching fundamental ethical boundaries. Meanwhile, national defense strategies continue to evolve. Germany's Defense Ministry clarified that "the decision on the use of military force remains with humans," though specific weapon functions may operate autonomously depending on circumstances. Additionally, the German military rejected commercial software from US-based Palantir, opting instead to build a proprietary artificial intelligence platform for data analysis. Defense analysts emphasize that maintaining independent algorithmic decision-making remains vital for national strategic autonomy.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, ESUT.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held discussions at the White House during Xi's first state visit to the United States in over a decade. The bilateral talks covered several major international security issues, including the war in Ukraine, stability in the Middle East, and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The meeting comes shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested that US leadership press Beijing to use its diplomatic influence over Moscow to encourage de-escalation in Ukraine. Observers suggest China could leverage its position to seek trade or diplomatic concessions from Washington in exchange for reducing its diplomatic and economic backing of Russia.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.