Oct 31, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC

The European Union has extended its sanctions framework against Russia as military strikes and diplomatic developments continue across the region. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike targeting a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, characterizing the action as an effort to divide European allies.

On the ground, Ukrainian local authorities reported two people killed and 14 injured following Russian shelling in the Kherson region. Meanwhile, drone strikes in Russia's Belgorod region and Sochi reportedly injured seven individuals.

In diplomatic affairs, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Kyiv and Moscow reached an understanding to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree dismissing the country's prosecutor general.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has condemned the shift of Istanbul's Üsküdar district municipal leadership to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) following a local council vote. Speaking at a rally in Üsküdar and in a television interview on Koza TV, Özel described the outcome as a violation of democratic standards and questioned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's democratic credentials.

Additionally, Özel clarified Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş's recent meeting with Erdoğan. He stated the discussion focused exclusively on administrative matters to resolve operational hurdles confronting municipal services in the Turkish capital.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet

Russian attacks across Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period resulted in five civilian deaths and 16 injuries, local emergency services reported. Russian forces launched nearly 60 strikes targeting five separate districts throughout the area.

The highest casualty toll occurred in the Kamianske district, where three people were killed and five others were wounded. In Pavlohrad, strikes left two people dead and seven injured. Additional artillery and drone attacks hit the Nikopol district, causing further civilian injuries and igniting several fires.

Emergency personnel worked to extinguish the blazes and assist affected residents while local infrastructure sustained widespread damage.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly urged national authorities to start logistical planning for post-war elections. Fedorov, who was removed from his post by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, argued that establishing voting systems for millions of displaced citizens, active military personnel, and overseas refugees will require extensive preparation well before hostilities cease.

Under Ukrainian law, elections are prohibited while martial law remains in effect. Nevertheless, Fedorov emphasized that administrative mechanisms must be ready to guarantee democratic continuity as soon as conditions allow. President Zelensky’s administration maintains that national defense remains the immediate priority, though discussions surrounding post-conflict electoral arrangements are increasingly surfacing among political figures.

Sources: Le Monde.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed major global conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, during high-level talks at the White House. The meeting took place during Xi’s three-day state visit to the United States, his first in over a decade.

According to statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and official reports, discussions also covered stability on the Korean Peninsula and bilateral trade relations. Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked Trump to press Xi to use Beijing’s leverage over Moscow to encourage de-escalation in Ukraine. Analysts noted that Beijing's support for Russia remains a key point of strategic negotiation between Washington and Beijing.

Trump personally greeted Xi at the tarmac upon his arrival, a rare diplomatic gesture previously extended to other world leaders.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.