Oct 11, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to pause strikes targeting mutual energy infrastructure, despite ongoing military engagements across multiple fronts. Ukrainian officials reported two deaths and 14 injuries following Russian artillery strikes in the Kherson region, while Ukrainian drone attacks reportedly injured seven individuals across Russia's Belgorod region and Sochi.

Concurrently, the European Union extended its sanctions framework against Russia. Following a recent Russian attack on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot characterized the strike as a deliberate attempt to intimidate Europeans. In domestic political developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially dismissed the country's prosecutor general by executive decree.

Sources: CDM.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on parliament to draft legislation establishing a framework for national elections once martial law ends. Ukrainian law currently forbids holding elections while martial law remains active during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Fedorov, who was removed from his post by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, stated that early legal preparations are essential to solve complex logistical hurdles before hostilities cease. Primary challenges include securing voting mechanisms for frontline military personnel and enabling millions of displaced Ukrainians residing abroad to participate. Supporters maintain that early legislative planning will prevent administrative delays and facilitate a smooth transition back to democratic processes when martial law eventually expires.

Sources: Le Monde.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly turned down a US-backed 15-point peace initiative for Gaza, reiterating that armed forces will remain in the territory until Hamas fully surrenders its weapons. Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, Netanyahu confirmed that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and stressed that troops "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed".

The public refusal highlights growing friction between Jerusalem and Washington, despite Israeli forces recently scaling back offensive operations under American guidance. Netanyahu is attempting to balance diplomatic relations with the White House against pressure from right-wing coalition partners ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for late October.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump presented starkly different foreign policy visions during their addresses at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Macron criticized international diplomatic efforts in Gaza, describing them as a "shameful spectacle" while denouncing Israeli policy in the West Bank. Speaking hours later, Trump defended his unilateral approach to global security, asserting, "While others talk, I act." The U.S. leader issued stern warnings to Iran, predicted the collapse of Cuba's government, and highlighted American access to Venezuelan oil reserves.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the assembly, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez approached Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to request a bilateral meeting regarding diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia

European leaders and analysts gathered in Split for the EU MED9 summit to address mounting security, migration, and economic challenges. Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen defense capabilities and protect cohesion funding amidst ongoing Black Sea security risks and Middle East instability.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned that existing European institutions were "created for a different world" and called for regulatory simplification to boost competitiveness. Simultaneously, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with von der Leyen to discuss national energy price caps designed to shield consumers from rising costs. Plenković also reiterated the necessity of electoral reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure equal political representation for Croats in the country's presidency.

Sources: Avaz, FENA, HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik