Oct 29, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump has encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace agreement prior to winter. Following a meeting with Zelensky and a telephone call with Putin, Trump stated that the Russian president desires a resolution, asserting, "He wants a deal." Trump emphasized that both leaders must negotiate directly to halt the conflict.

Zelensky characterized his discussions with Trump as "positive and productive," noting that both Ukraine and the United States aim to conclude the conflict soon. The Ukrainian leader signaled that the war might enter its final phase in the coming months. Trump reaffirmed his agreement with Zelensky on various topics while maintaining that a negotiated settlement remains necessary for both sides.

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

Tensions near the Strait of Hormuz have escalated after Iranian state media claimed strikes on six vessels, including three commercial oil tankers and three American military ships, alongside missile targeting of a US aircraft carrier. Emergency responders successfully extinguished a fire aboard one damaged tanker.

US President Donald Trump minimized the incidents, stating that "Hormuz [is] open" and claiming Tehran faces severe hardship. However, American intelligence assessments cautioned that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps appears emboldened, raising fears of further military escalation in the region.

The renewed clashes follow American air strikes in July that disrupted a 14-point memorandum of understanding negotiated between Washington and Tehran in June.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly urged Kyiv officials to begin technical and logistical preparations for national elections, despite ongoing martial law. Dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, Fedorov argued that failing to establish administrative frameworks now could significantly delay democratic processes once hostilities cease.

Key hurdles include organizing voting mechanisms for millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad, internally displaced persons, and active military personnel on the front lines. Although the Zelensky administration maintains that holding elections during wartime remains impossible due to security concerns, Fedorov stressed that building infrastructure ahead of time ensures immediate readiness when conditions permit.

Sources: Le Monde

Nordic commentators and military analysts report increasing constraints on Moscow's strategic flexibility alongside escalating tensions in Northern Europe. Ukrainian drone strikes on energy infrastructure near Moscow have reportedly impacted Russian oil refining capacity, according to Ukrainian claims. Meanwhile, security analysts note that achieving European defense objectives inherently requires a Russian defeat, even as Moscow retains the capacity to sustain a prolonged conflict.

Concurrently, diplomatic friction between Russia and Norway has intensified. Kremlin officials denounced recent NATO military exercises and the seizure of a Russian vessel. In response to heightened Russian rhetoric, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre urged citizens to "not be afraid, but prepared."

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, Dagens Næringsliv, TV 2 Nyheter, VG