Oct 10, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Following a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump stated he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking a peace deal to end the conflict. Speaking after a phone call with Putin, Trump urged both leaders to negotiate, saying, "if Zelensky wants a deal, it would be great."

Zelensky described his discussion with Trump as "positive and productive," noting that both Washington and Kyiv share the goal of concluding the war prior to the winter season. Despite the optimistic statements from both leaders, neither side disclosed specific terms or frameworks for potential negotiations with Moscow.

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

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated sharply following the collapse of peace negotiations and the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding signed in June. Tehran announced a shift toward a "completely offensive" military posture, with Iranian armed forces stating they will pursue the "complete defeat" of American forces in the region.

The diplomatic breakdown comes alongside direct military clashes at sea. United States Central Command reported targeting five Iranian oil tankers, sinking one vessel, in response to Iranian strikes on an American warship. Analysts warn that domestic economic strains and disputes over maritime control in the Strait of Hormuz significantly heighten the risk of a broader conflict as Washington declines to extend the temporary ceasefire.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv overnight, injuring a civilian following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the United Nations General Assembly. Simultaneously, Russia's Defense Ministry announced a campaign specifically targeting Ukraine's energy grid, as Ukrainian retaliatory drone attacks on Russian oil refineries forced Moscow to import fuel. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the European Union "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil" after German investigators in Leipzig identified two suspects linked to Moscow over explosive drones.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has pledged to raise the country's average net salary to €1,600 by 2028, while outlining plans for October consultations to adjust the minimum wage. Additionally, the government's €3 billion industrial plan aims to boost high-tech manufacturing through 2034.

Despite 22 consecutive quarters of gross domestic product expansion, economic stakeholders warn that growth is decelerating. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that labor costs are rising faster than national productivity, arguing that the private sector must drive future growth rather than public funding. Economist Ljubo Jurčić delivered a stricter assessment, characterising the national economy as floating "without an engine and without a rudder." Jurčić asserted that annual growth must exceed five percent to ensure stability as domestic consumption cools.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti.