Nov 13, 2026, 03:00 AM UTC

Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi have reached a critical juncture. Moscow proposed bilateral non-aggression pacts with select NATO members as part of a revised European security framework. However, Russian Chief Negotiator Vladimir Medinsky dismissed expectations of territorial compromise, stating that "every inch of Russian land will be recovered, one way or another" and accusing Western media of living in an illusion.

Simultaneously, heavy fighting and aerial bombardments continue on the ground. Recent Russian air strikes targeting Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure—including over 160 attacks in a single night—caused extensive power outages across the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The ongoing destruction of energy grid facilities poses severe humanitarian challenges for Ukraine ahead of the winter season.

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

Trilateral negotiations between Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations continued in Abu Dhabi following initial discussions described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "constructive and pretty substantive." The talks, launched in the United Arab Emirates, initially involved coordination with European and American partners before moving into the three-way format led by Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Chief Rustem Umerov alongside US and Russian officials.

While primary progress centered on establishing parameters for a new exchange of prisoners of war, broader topics included future security guarantees and frameworks for ending the conflict. Despite humanitarian advances, strategic settlement proposals face hurdles. Ideas floating around the process include a US suggestion for Ukrainian administrative reform to merge unoccupied areas of Donetsk into neighboring regions, alongside debated proposals regarding Russia's re-entry into European energy markets.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainska Pravda

Delegates from roughly 200 nations are meeting in Antalya for the COP31 UN climate conference, which runs from 9 to 20 November. Australia and Turkey have put forward a joint proposal aiming for electricity to account for 35 percent of final global energy consumption by 2035, a target endorsed by Germany amid ongoing Middle Eastern energy supply concerns.

However, climate activist Greta Thunberg delivered a sharp rebuke of the summit, asserting that "nobody is coming to save us" and accusing world leaders of abandoning vulnerable communities affected by environmental degradation.

Domestic obligations have drawn key leaders away from the conference. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remained in Germany to address rising antisemitism, characterising the protection of the Jewish community as a historic test. Meanwhile, Romanian Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță outlined planned government relief schemes for households and businesses facing elevated winter energy costs.

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

Following consultations in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travelled to Dublin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The American negotiators announced that European representatives must participate in future diplomatic efforts to conclude the war in Ukraine, indicating that President Putin had shown openness to European involvement.

However, during the Moscow discussions, President Putin reaffirmed Russia's firm stance regarding its territorial demands. He reiterated that any agreed boundary must align with Russia's official constitutional borders, which encompass Crimea alongside four partially occupied regions in eastern Ukraine. In light of ongoing shuttle diplomacy, Kushner called on European leaders to appoint a lead negotiator to join upcoming multilateral talks.

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

Pro-war Russian Telegram channels reported the loss of three Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft and the deaths of pilots during efforts to counter a major overnight Ukrainian drone strike targeting Leningrad Oblast. The defense operations coincided with reported strikes on the port of Ust-Luga, where a fire injured three workers.

On the frontlines, Ukrainian forces reportedly captured new positions in the western part of Mala Tokmachka along the Zaporizhzhia axis. Simultaneously, Russian troops continued expanding their area of control southeast of Kostiantynivka and advanced northwest of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian civilian targets were also hit, including a lyceum in Yagotyn, Kyiv Oblast, where students escaped unharmed in a shelter.

Sources: Belsat, Mediazona, NEXTA, The Insider, Verstka.