Nov 12, 2026, 08:00 AM UTC

American negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have traveled to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin on the outcome of recent three-way talks held in Abu Dhabi. A central priority for the US delegation is urging the Kremlin to accept European participation in upcoming diplomatic rounds.

Following the session in the United Arab Emirates, where European nations were not present, Kushner emphasized that European leaders must be brought to the table and recommended that the continent select a single representative for future negotiations. Kushner and Witkoff are also scheduled to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, critical infrastructure attacks continue on the ground. Russian strikes against Ukraine's power grid left approximately 600,000 people without electricity in the east, while energy providers in Kyiv warned of potential capital-wide outages.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Baltic nations cleared air raid alarms after NATO fighter aircraft scrambled overnight in response to at least four drones entering Baltic airspace. The incursions coincided with widespread Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russian infrastructure, prompting Finland to briefly enact precautionary airspace and maritime border controls before lifting them hours later.

The regional alert took place as a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Kirishi oil refinery near St. Petersburg, which is Russia's second-largest fuel processing plant. Local authorities stated that multiple explosions sparked a fire at the facility, which emergency crews subsequently extinguished. One woman was killed near the site by falling debris from an intercepted drone.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

The US House of Representatives has voted down an impeachment resolution targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following recent Republican midterm losses. The motion, introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, alleged that Hegseth initiated unauthorized military actions against Iran and executed unlawful commands without congressional approval. The Republican-majority chamber ultimately blocked the initiative from proceeding.

The vote occurred amid broader political fallout in Washington. US President Donald Trump recently defended his administration's record during a CBS 60 Minutes interview, addressing migration policy, potential cabinet shifts, and the recent election outcomes. Tensions increased further following Trump's appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff. The decision sparked sharp criticism from political opponents and raised concerns among several Republican lawmakers due to Miller's role in previous controversial policy decisions.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex.

Ahead of Slovenia's local elections on Sunday, 15 candidates competing for the Ljubljana mayoral seat are making their final push to voters. The broad field includes high-profile political leaders such as Klemen Boštjančič, Jasmin Feratović, Zoran Janković, Marko Koprivc, and Luka Mesec.

Candidates are scheduled to outline their platforms for the municipal administration during a televised debate on TV SLO 1 on Thursday evening. Independent contender Aleksandar Repić emphasized that the capital's leadership requires moral responsibility and civic dedication alongside formal experience, stating that voters should look beyond traditional qualifications to consider a candidate's personal foundations and commitment to everyday citizens.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

U.S. mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have concluded two days of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi alongside Russian and Ukrainian delegations. The envoys aimed to establish a new security framework, evaluating past diplomatic attempts to resolve core disagreements over territorial status, security guarantees, and NATO's role. Kushner described the goal as creating a "new frame of reference" for future stability.

Following the talks, the American delegation travels to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin, before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin during an informal European summit. Zelensky noted a "window of opportunity for progress by the end of the year."

Separately, Italian officials reiterated that Rome's military aid to Kyiv will remain strictly limited to defensive equipment and power generators, ruling out further missile shipments for the Samp/T air-defense system.

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