Nov 13, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have called for European representation in forthcoming negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian leaders in Dublin.

According to US negotiators, President Putin expressed willingness to allow European parties to join the diplomatic effort. However, Moscow maintained its strict territorial stance during discussions, with Putin insisting that any final settlement must respect Russia's constitutional borders, which include Crimea and four partially occupied Ukrainian regions.

Following the talks, Kushner urged European governments to appoint a unified lead negotiator to participate in the expanding multilateral framework.

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

Ukraine conducted an overnight long-range drone operation targeting Russia's second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, located near St. Petersburg. Local officials reported several large explosions followed by a fire, which emergency personnel subsequently extinguished. One casualty was recorded after a woman was fatally struck by falling drone debris.

During the strikes against Russian targets, at least four drones strayed into the airspace of Baltic countries. The incursions prompted Baltic authorities to issue air raid alarms and NATO forces to scramble fighter jets to monitor regional skies. Finland temporarily implemented security restrictions across its maritime and aerial zones. All air raid alerts were called off after regional security conditions stabilized.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Spain's national strike against rising housing costs and inflation resulted in uneven disruption across sectors while exposing sharp divides between labor representatives and business groups. Demonstrations centered heavily on major logistics hubs including Mercamadrid and Mercabarna, where informational pickets gathered early in the day. Industrial plants experienced significant slowdowns, contrastingly offset by minimal disruption within the services sector.

Contrasting evaluations of the mobilization quickly emerged. The CEOE employer association described participation as reaching "historic lows," referencing a 4.7% decline in national electricity demand and placing the total economic impact at €1.7 billion. Conversely, trade unions emphasized strong industrial engagement and urged younger workers to join the demonstrations. Political friction escalated after Podem leader Irene Montero criticized police tactics, citing "cracked heads, broken ribs and swollen eyes" among participants.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca

Preparations for France's 2027 presidential election have intensified across the political spectrum following a major broadcast featuring eight potential contenders focused on public services.

On the right, Bruno Retailleau of Les Républicains reiterated his demand for a joint primary, arguing the initiative must proceed even if former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe declines to participate. Concurrently, Reconquête! leader Éric Zemmour formally declared his candidacy on national television before engaging with right-wing digital influencers. Former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire criticized the early flurry of bids, warning that candidates "poussent comme des champignons," while refraining from ruling out a future campaign of his own.

On the left, discussions regarding a potential governing alliance between La France Insoumise and Les Écologistes are ongoing, ahead of a key vote by the Green party to determine its strategy.

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

U.S. intelligence agencies and Nvidia's board of directors have opened investigations into Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang regarding allegations that he was targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation. The inquiries focus on his extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, whom U.S. authorities suspect of attempting to gather semiconductor data for Beijing.

While Jensen Huang acknowledged marital infidelity in an internal memo to employees, he did not explicitly identify the woman involved. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the matter, noting that Huang stated he was unaware of any espionage ties. Nvidia announced that an internal review found no evidence compromising corporate or government secrets, though the developments triggered a decline in the company's stock value.

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