Oct 25, 2026, 07:30 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a peace agreement before winter, following talks in Washington.

Speaking after the meeting, Zelensky described the discussions as "positive and productive," stating that both Washington and Kyiv share the goal of halting the conflict in the coming months. Trump voiced optimism about potential negotiations, indicating that recent phone communications led him to believe the Russian president seeks a resolution. However, the US president emphasized that progress depends on mutual willingness to compromise.

"I agree with Zelensky on many different issues, but you know what I want him to do? I want him to reach a deal," Trump stated.

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

Reports indicate that Russian authorities are conducting mobilization exercises and testing logistics to prepare for a potential draft following the September parliamentary elections. Training activities have been reported in areas such as the Kaliningrad region, focusing on equipping, housing, and supplying new conscripts.

Although Moscow has not formally announced a new call-up, rising recruitment costs for contract soldiers and battlefield losses continue to pressure military capacity. Western analysts suggest a new mobilization could support planned offensives against Ukrainian strongholds such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, with high-intensity combat expected to persist through at least 2027. Legal mechanisms and a digital military registry are already in place to facilitate a draft if ordered.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point peace framework for Gaza supported by US President Donald Trump, stating that military forces will remain in the enclave until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."

In televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli troops would continue neutralizing security threats regardless of ongoing diplomatic efforts. Although US diplomatic pressure has significantly reduced major offensive operations in recent days, the refusal underscores a growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem.

Netanyahu faces dual political pressures ahead of Israel's planned general election on 27 October, striving to appease far-right coalition partners while managing relations with Washington. Meanwhile, Hamas had previously accepted the proposed 15-point arrangement in late July.

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

Ukrainian troops are advancing along the right bank of the Oskil River north of Kupiansk, while officials prepare to confirm the recapture of around 200 square kilometres near Lyman.

In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that its military units captured several settlements on the approaches to Sumy. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov publicly refuted accounts of Ukrainian military progress, asserting that defensive positions along the sector remain secure.

Concurrently, overnight Russian air attacks targeted and struck ammunition storage facilities across the Kyiv region.

Sources: The Insider.

US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for high-level bilateral talks during Xi's first state visit to the United States in over a decade.

According to statements from the Chinese foreign ministry and diplomatic reports, the discussions focused on major international security issues, including the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Trump provided a rare diplomatic reception by greeting the Chinese leader directly at his aircraft upon arrival.

The summit follows recent appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged Washington to press Beijing to use its leverage over Moscow to encourage de-escalation. Analysts noted that Beijing could potentially seek trade concessions from the US in exchange for adjusting its diplomatic posture toward Russia.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Radio Svoboda, Ukrainska Pravda