Nov 13, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff completed two days of peace discussions with Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Abu Dhabi, aiming to construct a new framework for conflict resolution. The American mediators plan to travel to Moscow to present the outcome to Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a summit in Dublin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky indicated that a window of opportunity exists for diplomatic progress before the year ends.

Meanwhile, security concerns persist following a joint breach of Russia's Rosstat agency by Ukrainian and Belarusian cyber groups, which reportedly uncovered documentation of 412,576 Russian military fatalities. In Western Europe, Italy announced its future military aid to Kyiv will focus solely on defense capabilities and power generators, withholding additional Samp/T air defense missiles as domestic procurement costs for its F-35 fighter jet fleet rise.

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

Spain's recent general strike saw contrasting participation levels across economic sectors, marked by significant downtime in manufacturing while the service industry maintained steady operations. The mobilization, aimed at addressing escalating housing costs and broader economic pressures, led to police interventions at distribution hubs such as Mercamadrid. Left-wing political leaders condemned the law enforcement response, highlighting injuries among participants, while business groups cited a minor drop in electrical demand as evidence of historic low turnout. Analysts noted the strategic timing of the demonstrations, suggesting trade unions sought to mobilize younger voters and sway political dynamics ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv are preparing to convene for a new round of talks despite a fresh surge in bilateral military actions targeting energy infrastructure. Ukrainian forces recently struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries, while Russian troops launched retaliatory strikes against Ukraine's electrical grid.

Simultaneously, global trade dynamics continue to shift following the victory of Democrats in the recent U.S. midterm elections. Several tankers transporting Russian fuel, including the Maltese-flagged Agioi Fanendes carrying 40,000 tons of diesel, diverted their routes away from North American destinations.

Meanwhile, civil unrest remains persistent across Western Europe. Student-led weekend demonstrations have forced commercial establishments to adapt, with store managers routinely boarding up storefronts on Fridays to mitigate property damage before resuming regular operations on Mondays.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Preparations for France's 2027 presidential election are accelerating as key political figures clarify their intentions. Following a public service debate featuring eight prospective contenders, center-right Les Républicains candidate Bruno Retailleau reiterated calls for a primary, insisting it should proceed even if Horizons leader Édouard Philippe refuses to participate.

Meanwhile, former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire publicly criticized the early proliferation of declared candidates, remarking that they "poussent comme des champignons," while keeping options open for a future bid. On the far right, Reconquête! leader Éric Zemmour formally confirmed his candidacy during a television interview. On the left, negotiations over a potential majority agreement between La France Insoumise and Les Écologistes continue ahead of an upcoming Green strategy vote.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération.

U.S. intelligence agencies and Nvidia’s board of directors have launched investigations into potential security risks associated with Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang. The inquiries follow reports alleging that Huang was targeted in a Chinese intelligence operation involving an extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. U.S. authorities suspect her of attempting to gather sensitive semiconductor information on behalf of Beijing.

Huang publicly acknowledged marital infidelity in a message to staff, though he did not identify his partner. During a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed the Federal Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the matter, Huang denied any knowledge of espionage activities. Nvidia stated that an internal review found no evidence compromising corporate or government secrets, although the development triggered a temporary decline in the company's stock value.

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