Oct 26, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Following a meeting in Washington, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both voiced support for ending the war with Russia prior to the coming winter. Zelensky characterized the discussions as "positive and productive," stating that both Washington and Kyiv share the goal of stopping Russian aggression in the near future.

Concurrently, Trump expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking a resolution following a recent telephone call between the two leaders. Trump urged both sides to negotiate, remarking that Putin "wants a deal and, if Zelensky wants a deal, it would be great." While the Ukrainian leadership maintains that any peace settlement must protect national sovereignty, the US administration continues to advocate for a negotiated agreement to halt hostilities.

Sources: Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP.

European Union member states have resolved a diplomatic impasse to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The consensus was achieved after diplomats agreed to remove steel tycoon Alisher Usmanov and banker Mikhail Fridman from the list, satisfying demands raised by France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg.

The temporary delay risked an automatic expiration of the sanctions regime, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states every six months.

Concurrently, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally adopted the bloc's largest sanctions package against Moscow to date, targeting military supply chains and economic assets.

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a US-backed 15-point proposal aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The statement highlights a growing policy rift between Israel and Washington, coming shortly after US President Donald Trump announced the framework, which Hamas had previously accepted.

Despite the diplomatic disagreement, Israeli military operations in the enclave have been scaled back following pressure from the United States. Netanyahu's rejection coincides with campaigning for Israel's upcoming national election on 27 October, where he faces political pressure from far-right coalition partners opposing concessions alongside demands from Washington for progress toward a ceasefire.

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

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their football trajectories and domestic league perspectives in separate interviews. Čeh, who captained Slovenia's national side under manager Srečko Katanec before spending over a decade as his assistant coach in Asia, reaffirmed his affinity for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austrian club Grazer AK alongside his respect for rival NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third stint in pursuit of a league title. Addressing Maribor's upcoming derby against Olimpija Ljubljana, Mlakar acknowledged that despite Olimpija's current crisis, pre-match form matters little in traditional rivalries where an underdog "can only gain." Both figures highlighted the ongoing evolution and competitive pressures within Slovenian football.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

U.S. Central Command carried out additional strikes against Iranian military positions near the Strait of Hormuz following an attempted Iranian naval mining operation and ballistic missile launches against American warships. U.S. forces also targeted three Iranian oil tankers, expanding direct military actions to commercial maritime traffic.

President Donald Trump issued further warnings, threatening retaliatory attacks against Iran's power plants, energy infrastructure, and bridges if threats to regional shipping continue.

Military analysts noted that the escalation reflects an era of "energy warfare" and fifth-generation conflict. This shift is characterized by heavy reliance on drone systems and targeting civilian infrastructure to exert geopolitical pressure. U.S. officials confirmed that international shipping corridors in the strait have been cleared of explosive devices.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV