Oct 24, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace agreement before winter. Speaking after a Washington meeting with Zelensky, Trump expressed confidence that Moscow is prepared to negotiate following a recent phone conversation with Putin.

Trump emphasized that both leaders must come to terms, remarking, "I agree with Zelensky on many different issues, but you know what I want him to do? To reach a deal."

Zelensky characterized the discussion as "positive and productive," stating that Kyiv and Washington share the goal of concluding the conflict prior to the winter season. The Ukrainian leader expressed optimism that coordinated action could bring the war to an end within the coming months.

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

Russian authorities continue logistical and administrative preparations that could facilitate a second mobilization wave following the State Duma elections in September. Military units recently conducted readiness exercises, including in the Kaliningrad region, to test housing, equipping, and supplying incoming conscripts.

While Moscow has not officially declared a new draft, rising recruitment costs for contract soldiers and high battlefield losses present ongoing manpower challenges. Operational demands, particularly upcoming offensive pushes around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, are further straining active troop numbers. Meanwhile, Western intelligence and defense officials caution that hostilities may intensify in the coming months and persist through at least 2027, prompting European military planners to prepare for extended regional instability.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider.

Russian forces continued overnight drone strikes against Kyiv, injuring a resident following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the United Nations General Assembly. Russian defense officials confirmed a dedicated military campaign aimed at destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure before winter. In response, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have disrupted fuel supplies, forcing Moscow to import petroleum products.

Concurrently, European authorities raised security concerns following German investigations that identified two suspects tied to Moscow behind explosive drone incidents in Leipzig. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the European Union "will not tolerate attacks" on its territory and remains ready to respond to hostile operations.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

European Union member states have resolved a diplomatic impasse, agreeing to renew sanctions against approximately 3,000 Russian individuals and entities linked to the war in Ukraine.

The agreement was delayed after France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg pushed to remove specific figures from the penal list before procedural deadlines expired. Member states ultimately approved a compromise removing steel magnate Alisher Usmanov and financier Mikhail Fridman from the list to preserve unanimity for the broader measures.

In a parallel development, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally adopted the bloc's largest sanctions package to date against Moscow. The new measures target Russia's military-industrial complex, financial networks, and energy sector.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, stating that Israeli forces will not pull back from the territory until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu directly turned down the proposal, which Hamas had previously endorsed following negotiations led by Washington. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu declared, adding that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

The refusal comes despite a recent halt in Israeli strikes across Gaza under American diplomatic pressure. Netanyahu faces competing political pressures from far-right coalition partners opposing concessions and Washington pushing for a settlement ahead of Israel's general election scheduled for October 27.

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