Oct 26, 2026, 02:00 PM UTC

Following discussions in Washington, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced a mutual goal to end the war with Russia before winter. Zelensky described the dialogue as "positive and productive," highlighting that both nations seek a swift conclusion to the conflict.

Trump urged both Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a settlement, stating after a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader is ready for talks. Trump noted, "He wants a deal and, if Zelensky wants a deal, it would be great." While Washington pushes for a diplomatic resolution, Kyiv maintains that any future agreement must respect Ukrainian national sovereignty.

Sources: Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP.

Fighting across several Ukrainian front lines remains active, with both sides reporting contrasting developments. Ukrainian troops have made gains along the right bank of the Oskil River north of Kupiansk and are expected to confirm control over roughly 200 square kilometers in the Lyman sector.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed its forces captured several settlements on the approaches to Sumy. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov denied reports of Ukrainian operational advances, maintaining that Russian lines hold firm.

Additionally, Russian strikes hit ammunition storage depots in the Kyiv region overnight as air attacks continue across the country.

Sources: The Insider.

Federal prosecutors in New York have charged five alleged Russian intelligence operatives with executing a worldwide campaign of targeted killings and sabotage. According to court filings from the United States Department of Justice, the suspects recruited and financed operatives to conduct surveillance and launch attacks on targets linked to Ukraine across North America and Europe, including a specific operation in Prague in mid-2024. All five individuals remain at large.

Concurrently, Danish intelligence officials revealed at a Copenhagen security conference that Moscow has conducted physical sabotage against domestic defense manufacturers supplying military equipment to Ukraine. Officials from Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service described the actions as an escalation in Russian hybrid tactics designed to destabilize Western support for Kyiv.

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

Reports from Western media and regional observers indicate Russia is actively laying the groundwork for a possible new wave of military mobilization following the September State Duma elections. Logistics exercises, including mobilization drills in the Kaliningrad region, alongside an electronic draft registry and updated workplace registration rules, signal structural readiness. Although Kremlin officials have not finalized a draft order, mounting manpower losses in Ukraine and the escalating financial cost of signing contract soldiers place severe strain on Russian forces. Analysts note that prospective offensive operations against key fortified cities in eastern Ukraine, including Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, would require significant personnel reinforcements. Consequently, Western intelligence and defense officials anticipate prolonged hostilities, preparing for the conflict to extend through at least 2027.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider.

European Union member states have resolved a diplomatic dispute to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The consensus was reached after member states compromised by removing steel tycoon Alisher Usmanov and banker Mikhail Fridman from the list, satisfying demands raised by France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg. The temporary deadlock had threatened an automatic expiration of the overall sanctions framework, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU nations every six months.

Concurrently, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved the bloc's largest sanctions package to date. The new measures target Russia's military supply chains and economic assets, strengthening European support for Kyiv.

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