Nov 12, 2026, 07:30 PM UTC

Following two days of trilateral negotiations with Ukrainian and US officials in Abu Dhabi, Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky stated that Moscow will not cede control over any territories it claims. Medinsky warned European nations against living in an "illusion" regarding potential Russian territorial concessions.

The talks, which centered on potential ceasefires, security frameworks, and border determinations, saw Moscow propose bilateral non-aggression pacts with select NATO members. Simultaneously, Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure with over 160 aerial attacks overnight, causing major power outages in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions ahead of the winter season.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.

As Russian and Ukrainian envoys prepare for bilateral negotiations, both nations launched military strikes targeting key infrastructure. Ukrainian forces hit a major Russian oil refinery, while Russian strikes damaged elements of Ukraine's energy grid.

Simultaneously, the geopolitical shifts following recent U.S. midterm election results are altering international energy transport. Multiple tankers transporting Russian diesel diverted away from North American destinations, including a Maltese-flagged vessel carrying roughly 40,000 tons.

Across Western European urban centers, recurring weekend demonstrations led by student groups have disrupted local commerce. Retail operators in commercial districts are taking precautionary steps by boarding storefront windows on Friday evenings to mitigate property damage before resuming Monday operations.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Negotiations continued at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, where representatives from nearly 200 countries are considering a proposal to increase electricity's share of global final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg publicly criticized the participating leaders, stating that "nobody is coming to save us" while accusing international officials of failing to adequately address environmental degradation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz absenting himself from the summit remained in Munich to address domestic concerns regarding rising antisemitism.

Concurrently, Eastern European nations are drafting measures to handle seasonal energy demands. Romanian officials announced plans for financial assistance targeted at households and businesses to soften high winter power costs.

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

Maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz has deteriorated further after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that multiple commercial oil tankers exploded and caught fire. According to the IRGC, two vessels carrying over four million barrels of crude oil detonated after hitting naval mines in the strait's southern corridor, while additional reports indicated a third vessel caught fire during an incident while under U.S. military escort.

Amid the maritime disruptions, Iranian state media downplayed claims of direct missile strikes on Iranian territory, including Qeshm Island. However, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei issued a stern warning, stating Tehran would target U.S. bases in Europe if they are used to support strikes against Iran. The escalation comes as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that military operations against Iran remain incomplete.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Daily Sabah, France24, Sweden Herald, Trend News Agency.

U.S. federal agencies and Nvidia’s board of directors have launched investigations into Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang following allegations that a former executive from Singapore-based Megaspeed, Alice Huang, targeted him in a Chinese intelligence operation. Authorities suspect the association aimed to obtain sensitive semiconductor technology insights.

Huang admitted to marital infidelity in a statement to Nvidia personnel, though he did not publicly identify his partner. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the FBI is evaluating the situation, noting that Huang expressed shock and denied awareness of any espionage links. Nvidia's internal review has found no evidence that corporate or governmental secrets were compromised, but the oversight contributed to a decline in Nvidia's share price.

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