Nov 15, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Trilateral negotiations between American, Ukrainian, and Russian delegates in Abu Dhabi have concluded, sending US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The envoys will subsequently travel to Dublin to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who noted a potential window of opportunity for progress before the end of the year.

During the Abu Dhabi summit, Russian representatives reportedly recirculated demands for NATO to withdraw its forces to 1997 positions, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explicitly rejected European proposals for an immediate ceasefire. Simultaneously, Ukrainian delegates engaged in coordination sessions with NATO, European Commission, and E4 representatives. Italian sources emphasized the necessity of solidifying a single formal negotiating format to prevent diplomatic fragmentation.

Separately, joint leaks by Ukrainian and Belarusian hackers claimed to expose internal Russian statistical data indicating over 412,000 Russian military fatalities since February 2022.

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

American negotiators have reportedly proposed that Ukraine could secure NATO membership if Kyiv agrees to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

However, Moscow continues to press maximalist conditions for ending the conflict, demanding not only Ukrainian territorial concessions but also the complete withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has conditionally accepted European participation alongside Washington and Kyiv in future peace talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Brussels must first show a constructive approach. Moscow also reiterated a stark warning that any European peacekeeping troops stationed in Ukraine following a potential settlement would be viewed as legitimate military targets.

Sources: El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Canarias7, Infodefensa

Security conditions in the Strait of Hormuz remain precarious following reports from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that multiple oil tankers suffered explosions in the waterway. According to IRGC statements, two vessels carrying a combined four million barrels of crude oil struck naval mines in the strait's southern section, while a third vessel experienced an undisclosed incident under U.S. military escort.

Separately, Iranian state television clarified that reports of missile strikes on Iranian territory, including near Qeshm Island, remain unconfirmed. However, regional tension persists. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel's mission against Iran is "still not complete." Meanwhile, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that Tehran would target U.S. military facilities in Europe if they are used to support military operations against Iran.

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

Preparations for France's 2027 presidential election are accelerating as key political figures outline competing strategies and policy platforms. Eight prospective candidates participated in public discussions focused on national security, education, and the future of public services.

Debates surrounding candidate selection and coalition dynamics continue to divide major political blocs. Bruno Retailleau of Les Républicains reiterated his demand for a right-wing primary regardless of whether former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe participates. On the left, negotiations between La France Insoumise and Les Écologistes indicate potential progress toward a legislative agreement. Meanwhile, Reconquête! leader Éric Zemmour formally entered the race, prompting public criticism from former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who cautioned against premature campaign declarations.

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

Microsoft is continuing efforts to restore operations following a major global outage that disrupted core services, including Outlook, Teams, and Copilot. The technical failure, which began late Thursday, affected commercial and public sector entities across 74 countries and territories. In England, the qualifications regulator Ofqual reported that the disruption temporarily blocked its ability to process formal complaints and communications.

According to Microsoft, internal investigations indicate that the disruption was triggered by elevated infrastructure loads that impaired connection management processes, with no evidence of malicious activity identified. Engineering teams experienced delays during recovery efforts as heavy network traffic repeatedly hampered system restart procedures. Engineers continue to monitor network stability as services are progressively restored.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, France24, La Vanguardia, Marca