Oct 13, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal before winter. Speaking after a phone call with Putin, Trump expressed confidence that Moscow is seeking a resolution, adding, "if Zelensky wants an agreement, that would be great."

Their discussions followed a meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which the Ukrainian leader described as "positive and productive." Zelensky noted that both Washington and Kyiv share the objective of ending the conflict in the coming months. However, despite public optimism regarding diplomatic progress, neither side has announced concrete terms or an official structure for negotiations.

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

Active combat persists along Ukraine's eastern and northern frontlines, with the Ukrainian General Staff reporting between 221 and 254 combat engagements in recent 24-hour periods. Russian forces conducted dozens of assaults targeting defensive lines near Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Lyman.

Concurrently, both sides made conflicting claims regarding territorial control. Ukrainian troops advanced along the right bank of the Oskil River north of Kupyansk, alongside reports of potential Ukrainian gains near Lyman. Conversely, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed control over several settlements near Sumy. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov denied reports of Ukrainian progress. Strikes were also reported on ammunition depots in the Kyiv region.

Sources: The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

US federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against five individuals linked to Russian intelligence for allegedly orchestrating targeted assassinations and sabotage across North America and Europe. According to the Department of Justice, the Kremlin-backed network recruited facilitators globally to track and eliminate individuals supporting Ukraine.

The unsealed Manhattan indictment detailed several operations, including a June 2024 attack executed in Prague. All five suspects remain at large.

Concurrently, Danish intelligence officials revealed during a Copenhagen security conference that domestic defense companies supplying military equipment to Ukraine have faced direct Russian hybrid attacks and sabotage. Authorities described the operations as a notable escalation in Moscow's hybrid warfare strategy.

Sources: BBC News, France24, OCCRP, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

Emergency services in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region reported that five civilians were killed and 16 others injured following nearly 60 Russian bombardments across five districts within a 24-hour period.

Local authorities stated that the heaviest casualties occurred in the Kamianske district, where three people died and five sustained injuries. In the Pavlohrad district, strikes resulted in two fatalities and seven wounded residents, while additional casualties and infrastructure damage were reported in the Nikopol district. Emergency response crews deployed throughout the region to extinguish fires, clear rubble from targeted sites, and provide aid to affected residents.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă.

At a United Nations conference in Geneva, 128 member states established a common definition for autonomous weapon systems, marking a key step toward international regulation. The consensus coincided with joint warnings from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the ethical risks of machine-led targeting.

Concurrently, Germany's Ministry of Defence confirmed that certain military platforms may execute operational tasks without step-by-step human intervention, provided human operators retain ultimate authority over lethal force. To maintain technological sovereignty and avoid reliance on US contractor Palantir, the German Armed Forces are developing an in-house artificial intelligence platform for real-time data analysis and decision support. Military analysts emphasize that sovereign algorithmic capabilities will be crucial for maintaining operational effectiveness under time pressure.

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