Oct 31, 2026, 01:30 PM UTC

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy truce, calling on both nations to halt attacks on power and fuel infrastructure. Trump attributed rising global diesel prices to the conflict and urged both sides not to violate the deal.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disputed the announcement, confirming that Kyiv will continue targeting Russian oil refineries. Zelensky stated that Ukraine had briefly paused refinery strikes for three days at Washington's request, but declared "we are done" after Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities persisted. He added that Ukraine would only observe a truce if Moscow strictly complies.

Meanwhile, the European Union enacted fresh sanctions against Moscow, and the Kremlin rejected proposals for a broader temporary cease-fire.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix

Iran has claimed responsibility for targeting six vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including three commercial oil tankers and three United States naval craft, along with firing missiles toward an American aircraft carrier. A fire aboard one affected tanker was reportedly brought under control.

The escalations follow the breakdown of a 14-point diplomatic truce negotiated in June, which collapsed after US military actions in July. While US President Donald Trump downplayed the situation, asserting that Tehran is in major difficulty and that the vital waterway remains open, American intelligence assessments warn that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps feels emboldened and could further intensify the conflict.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed indictments charging five alleged Russian intelligence operatives with running a global sabotage and assassination network targeting allies of Ukraine across North America and Europe. According to the Department of Justice, the suspects paid or attempted to pay individuals to surveil and attack targets "aligned, or perceived to be aligned, with Ukraine," including a June 2024 attack in Prague. All five defendants remain at large.

Concurrently, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service announced that Russian state actors executed sabotage attacks against Danish defense companies providing military equipment to Kyiv. Danish officials described these acts as a direct escalation in Moscow's hybrid warfare strategy. International authorities continue their investigations into the network's activities.

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

European Union member states have resolved a diplomatic impasse, agreeing to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and organizations supporting the invasion of Ukraine. To secure unanimous approval and prevent existing measures from expiring, diplomats agreed to remove steel magnate Alisher Usmanov and financier Mikhail Fridman from the blacklist following demands from France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg.

Concurrently, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a major new sanctions package targeting Russia's war economy. The latest restrictions represent one of Brussels' most extensive measures to date, coming amid growing uncertainty over future United States military and financial support for Kyiv.

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework proposed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas completely disarms. Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and pledged to maintain operations against security threats. The statement highlights a growing divergence between Jerusalem and Washington over the proposal, which Hamas endorsed last month. However, under US pressure, Israeli forces have largely scaled back major offensive actions in Gaza. The rejection comes as Netanyahu balances demands from far-right coalition allies against maintaining key international support ahead of Israel's upcoming general election scheduled for October 27.

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