Nov 11, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Heavy combat persisted across eastern Ukraine, with Ukrainian defense forces reporting over 150 daily engagements concentrated around the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka sectors. Assessment by the Institute for the Study of War indicated that localized counterattacks slowed Russian movements near Kupyansk and Sloviansk, although Russian units expanded territory south of Dobropillia.

Simultaneously, Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian grid infrastructure caused widespread outages, severing power to over 600,000 consumers in Dnipropetrovsk and 250,000 in Kharkiv, while also impacting Kyiv and Zhytomyr. Inside Russia, Ukrainian drone strikes hitting eight refineries over a fortnight triggered localized fuel deficits, prompting regional authorities and fuel suppliers to enforce purchase limits at filling stations.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected peace proposals requiring Ukrainian troop withdrawals from Donbas, stating that international pressure is being misdirected at Kyiv rather than Moscow. His remarks coincided with trilateral discussions between Ukrainian, American, and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi. While US officials cited a "real chance" for progress toward ending the conflict, European diplomats expressed skepticism regarding Russia's commitment to peace.

Concurrently, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced positive talks with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth concerning a permanent Pentagon military presence in Poland. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk faces rising domestic pressure and opposition protests following contentious leadership changes at the country's Constitutional Tribunal.

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

Delegates from nearly 200 nations have gathered in Antalya for the COP31 climate conference, running through November 20. Discussions center on accelerating the green transition amid global energy pressures, with host nation Turkey and Australia proposing a target for electricity to comprise 35 percent of global final energy consumption by 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz skipped the summit to address domestic antisemitism at a Munich synagogue, describing the issue as a "historic test" for Germany.

Meanwhile, Eastern European countries are enacting measures to bolster energy resilience ahead of winter. Moldova passed legislation enabling municipalities, local businesses, and residents to establish energy communities for shared renewable power generation and storage. In Romania, Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță announced planned support programs to help vulnerable households and businesses absorb high electricity costs during the colder months.

Sources: Digi24, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă

Trilateral peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States continued for a second day in Abu Dhabi, centered on post-war European security arrangements. As talks progressed alongside coordination sessions with European delegates, details regarding national military support emerged.

Italy clarified its ongoing aid posture to Kyiv, confirming it will supply only defensive equipment and power generators, explicitly excluding Samp/T surface-to-air missiles. Simultaneously, domestic reports indicated a significant increase in Rome's long-term defense spending, with the projected cost of its F-35 fighter jet acquisition program rising from €13.5 billion to €20.8 billion.

The diplomatic track in the United Arab Emirates proceeds as Western allies assess post-conflict structures, alongside preliminary exercises by the newly formed Multinational Force for Ukraine.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) officially opened in Antalya, marking the first time Türkiye has hosted the global summit. Outgoing COP30 President André Aranha Corrêa do Lago formally transferred the presidency to Türkiye's Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum during the opening plenary.

Addressing delegates from more than 196 countries and the European Union, Kurum emphasized the stakes of the talks, stating that climate policy is "a policy of protecting human future."

Co-led by Türkiye as conference president and Australia as negotiation lead, the two-week summit focuses on moving international commitments toward practical implementation. Key agenda items include establishing climate finance mechanisms, negotiating timetables for phasing out fossil fuels, and advancing fair transition policies to meet Paris Agreement targets.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Bianet, Cumhuriyet, Daily Sabah, TRT Haber.