Nov 12, 2026, 06:30 PM UTC

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin following the conclusion of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. The second day of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations wrapped up after just two hours, significantly shorter than the initial session.

Following their discussions in the Russian capital, the American mediators are scheduled to fly to Dublin to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Zelensky expressed skepticism regarding the negotiation outcomes, reiterating Ukraine's firm demands for robust security guarantees and full sovereignty over the Donbas region.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Jornal Económico.

American mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi with Russian and Ukrainian envoys, aiming to establish a "new framework of reference" for peace negotiations. The U.S. delegation will now travel to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin.

Ukrainian Chief Negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed parallel coordination sessions in Abu Dhabi with NATO, European Commission, and E4 representatives. Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed optimism regarding progress before the year ends, despite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejecting European demands for an immediate truce.

Separately, Italian officials confirmed future aid to Kyiv will focus exclusively on defensive equipment and energy generators, withholding further Samp/T air defense missiles as Rome accelerates its domestic F-35 fighter jet acquisition program.

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

Leaked death registry data from Russia’s statistics agency, Rosstat, suggests that approximately 500,000 Russian military personnel have died since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Analyzed by Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the records reveal monthly combat fatalities topped 15,000 in late 2024 and early 2025.

Reports continue to highlight aggressive Russian mobilization strategies, including the recruitment of individuals suffering from severe mental illnesses. Simultaneously, European security forces remain focused on counter-intelligence operations against Moscow's clandestine networks, recently marked by the raid and arrest of suspected operative Vasilijs Kovacovs near Riga, Latvia.

Internal dissatisfaction within Russian military circles has also surfaced. Retired Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov publicly criticized President Vladimir Putin, declaring the war effectively lost and urging an immediate end to hostilities alongside peace negotiations.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

U.S. federal agencies and Nvidia’s board of directors are continuing investigations into Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang following disclosures regarding his relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. Authorities suspect the association may have been orchestrated by Chinese intelligence to acquire sensitive semiconductor technology insights.

While Huang acknowledged marital infidelity in a statement to company personnel, he did not publicly identify his partner. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the FBI is actively evaluating the situation, noting that Huang expressed shock and denied awareness of any intelligence links. An internal review by Nvidia has so far found no evidence that corporate or governmental secrets were compromised. Nevertheless, the ongoing counterintelligence probe and corporate oversight contributed to a decline in Nvidia's share price.

Sources: Hospodářské noviny, Money, Rzeczpospolita, Seznam Zprávy, TVP info.

US Central Command announced that American forces disabled the bulk carrier M/V Huda in an airstrike after the vessel repeatedly ignored warnings and attempted to breach an American blockade to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.

Simultaneously, Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers carrying over four million barrels of crude caught fire and lost propulsion in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guard described the incidents as an accident caused by sea mines after the ships traversed an unauthorized route despite naval warnings.

Political tensions remain high across the region. US President Donald Trump stated that military action against Iran is "effectively over," a characterization Tehran dismissed as "fake news." In parallel efforts, Washington offered financial rewards for information detailing Iran's nuclear activities, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged European partners to quickly decide on joining a maritime protection mission.

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