Nov 14, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

United States mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have concluded two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi alongside Ukrainian and Russian representatives. The American delegation will now travel to Moscow to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin before flying to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who suggested a window of opportunity exists for diplomatic progress before year-end.

European officials, including representatives from the E4 group, NATO, and the European Commission, conducted parallel sessions with Kiev's negotiators. Italian diplomatic sources noted that Abu Dhabi has emerged as the central reference point, stressing the need to consolidate negotiating formats to avoid fragmentation.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected European calls for an immediate ceasefire. Separately, Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov acknowledged ongoing talks as reports emerged that Ukrainian and Belarusian hackers breached Russia's statistical agency database, revealing records of over 400,000 Russian military fatalities.

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

United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff announced that European nations will be included in upcoming negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Following diplomatic talks in Moscow and Dublin, the American representatives stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to widen the scope of discussions. This expansion allows European post-war security arrangements to be addressed alongside core territorial disputes.

US negotiators urged European leaders to appoint a single diplomatic representative for the upcoming sessions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the development, noting that European nations will now hold a direct voice in the process. Despite remaining differences between Kyiv and Moscow, envoys also reported progress toward a potential major prisoner exchange.

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

U.S. negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a brief second day of talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi. Upon landing at Vnukovo airport, the delegation was received by Kirill Dmitriev, a special representative for the Russian presidency.

The bilateral discussions in the United Arab Emirates concluded after a two-hour session, during which Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky noted that preliminary understandings had been established between the parties.

Following their Moscow engagements, the American envoys are scheduled to travel to Dublin to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky continues to express skepticism regarding the progress of the peace talks, maintaining requirements for robust security guarantees and full Ukrainian sovereignty over the Donbas region.

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

Emergency services across the Baltic region have stood down following overnight air raid alerts linked to a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Kirishi oil refinery near St. Petersburg. The strike ignited a fire and triggered multiple explosions at the facility, resulting in one civilian death from falling debris.

During the operation, at least four drones breached the airspace of neighboring Baltic nations. The intrusions prompted NATO to deploy fighter jets and led Finnish officials to enact temporary maritime and airspace restrictions. Civil defense systems and regional air traffic management returned to standard operations after officials verified that the uncrewed aerial vehicles had left NATO airspace without inflicting structural damage on allied territory.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Following nationwide general strike action across Spain over housing costs and inflation, political leaders and economic groups remain divided over the movement's impact and the police response. Organisers reported significant participation in manufacturing plants and food logistics hubs such as Mercamadrid and Mercabarna. However, business representatives stated the economic fallout was limited, pointing to a modest 4.7% drop in national electricity demand.

Political friction intensified as opposition figures accused security forces of heavy-handed tactics during demonstrations. Prominent political leaders denounced police actions, citing incidents of physical injuries among protesters. Government and security officials maintained that law enforcement acted appropriately to manage picket lines and maintain public order. The fallout from the strike has become a central focal point in ongoing political debates as parties prepare for upcoming elections.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca