Oct 12, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure, despite continued heavy shelling across multiple regions. Ukrainian officials reported two deaths and 14 injuries from Russian strikes in Kherson, while Ukrainian drone attacks in Belgorod and Sochi wounded seven people.

Meanwhile, European Union diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, warning that Moscow aims to intimidate European allies and foster internal division. In response, the European Union officially renewed its sanctions against Russia. In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree removing the country's prosecutor general.

Sources: CDM.

Tensions remain elevated in the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian claims of military strikes targeting six vessels, including three commercial tankers and three U.S. naval ships, alongside missile launches aimed at an American aircraft carrier. The attacks came in response to recent U.S. military strikes in the region, interrupting a brief truce established by a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June. Emergency crews successfully extinguished a fire aboard one commercial vessel hit during the exchange. U.S. President Donald Trump minimized the fallout, maintaining that the strategic maritime passage remains open and arguing that Iran is under severe military and financial pressure. However, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps views its strategic position as strengthened, raising fears of further escalation.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Russian military forces executed fresh drone strikes targeting Kyiv, injuring at least one person, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Russian defense officials formally declared a campaign specifically designed to destroy Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

In response, Ukrainian long-range drone attacks against Russian refineries disrupted domestic petroleum supplies, compelling Moscow to import fuel from abroad.

Security concerns also mounted in Western Europe after German investigators linked two suspects in an explosive drone plot in Leipzig directly to Moscow. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded by stating that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil" and remains prepared to respond.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to conclude a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, following a telephone discussion between the two leaders. Speaking after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump called on both sides to settle terms and stop fighting before winter.

Zelensky characterized his meeting with Trump as "positive and productive," stating that both Washington and Kyiv share the ambition to halt the conflict in the coming months. Trump reiterated his push for a negotiated settlement, saying, "I want him to make a deal with Putin and Putin to make a deal with him." Neither side has outlined specific terms for potential negotiations.

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

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on the country's parliament to begin drafting a legal framework for post-war national elections. Speaking after his removal from office by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, Fedorov stressed that early legislative planning is vital to ensure Ukraine can quickly transition back to democratic processes once martial law is lifted.

Under current Ukrainian legislation, elections cannot be held while martial law is in effect due to Russia's ongoing invasion. Officials face significant logistical obstacles, including organizing voting for millions of citizens living abroad as refugees and securing democratic access for frontline military personnel. Proponents of early planning emphasize that resolving these legal and administrative questions before the end of hostilities is essential to ensure free, fair, and credible elections when security permits.

Sources: Le Monde.