World·since 26 May·1,251 entries
The war in Ukraine and its limits
Ukraine and Russia keep striking each other's energy sites while Trump's announced energy ceasefire has no agreed terms and Lavrov has rejected limited ceasefires. Trilateral talks are set for 10-11 November in Abu Dhabi, and Kyiv, Washington and Moscow are positioning envoys beforehand.
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This week21 entries
State of playtoday 12:03
Energy Truce Unimplemented
Trump announced an energy ceasefire on 11 October with no published scope, monitoring or start date. Reporting on 4 November says Lavrov dismissed proposals covering energy, food shipments, airspace and maritime activity. Zelensky has offered to halt refinery strikes if the US supplies Patriot interceptors.
Russia launched 310 drones overnight on 4-5 November, including 81 jet-powered ones, causing power and water outages around Kyiv. Ukraine's air force says 272 were downed or suppressed. Ukrainian drones hit Ryazan, where the governor reported more than 200 drones, and Moscow claimed 709 interceptions. The Komyshuvakha aid-centre toll reached 40.
Talks and Force Planning
US, Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November, with Medinsky leading Russia, in the first direct trilateral contact since February. Zelensky spoke again with Witkoff and Kushner on 5 November, prioritising Patriot interceptors and security guarantees. Dmitriev is in Washington, and Melania Trump met officials from both sides.
EU diplomats see no appetite for restoring Russian gas imports. The coalition of the willing meets on 19 November, and Exercise Koalicja runs 9-22 November in Poland. The test is whether Abu Dhabi yields written energy or Black Sea terms despite Moscow's rejection.
What comes next
- in 4 daysExercise Koalicja begins in Poland (until 22 November)
- in 5 daysUS-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi (10-11 November)
- in 39 daysG20 summit in Miami begins (14-15 December), Putin invited
Open questions
- Will Russia and Ukraine agree real terms to halt attacks on energy facilities after the collapse of the announced truce?
- How will the roughly $32.6 billion gap in Ukraine's 2027 external funding be covered beyond the €90 billion loan?
Who is who8
Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine
Briefed Witkoff and Kushner on Abu Dhabi proposals on 4 November, naming Patriot interceptors a priority, while Ukrainian drones keep hitting Russian refineries such as Yaroslavl and Ryazan.
5 Nov
Donald Trump US President
Announced an energy ceasefire on 11 October that still has no agreed terms, and his administration brokered the local Oleshky pause that has now expired.
3 Nov
Vladimir Putin Russian President
Will take a call from Zelensky only if Kyiv places it, and says Russia is ready for war with Europe but does not want one.
30 Oct
Steve Witkoff US special envoy
Spoke with Zelensky for about 90 minutes on 4 November, and says the Abu Dhabi talks will cover security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian issues.
5 Nov
Vladimir Medinsky Kremlin aide and head of Russia's delegation
Kremlin confirmed on 3 November he will lead Russia's team at the US-mediated talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
5 Nov
Marco Rubio US Secretary of State
Says Washington is reviewing Turkish and Indian proposals for a limited Black Sea pause, with no timetable.
2 Nov
United Kingdom and France Leads of Multinational Force Ukraine planning
Lead Exercise Koalicja on 9-22 November in Poland, where about 3,000 personnel from 12 countries rehearse a post-ceasefire deployment with no offensive role.
5 Nov
European Union officials Brussels policymakers
Reject a US-linked proposal to restart Russian gas imports via Ukraine and are frustrated with the US-led approach before Abu Dhabi.
4 Nov
Promises10
White Housekept
Russia and Ukraine will observe a local ceasefire in occupied Oleshky for aid and a civilian evacuation corridor.
23 Oct · due 29 Oct · reuters.com
Volodymyr Zelenskyyunclear
Zelenskyy will organise elections during a 60-day ceasefire.
11 Oct · rferl.org
Volodymyr Zelenskyybroken
Ukraine will stop strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow ends attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, with real guarantees.
11 Oct · rferl.org
Eleven EU countriesopen
Eleven EU countries will release 42.6 million barrels of strategic oil stocks, 20.5 million of them diesel, by end-January 2027.
29 Oct · due 31 Jan 2027 · lemonde.fr
Lithuaniaopen
Lithuania will introduce general conscription for men from 2032, subject to parliament's approval.
29 Oct · from 2032 · pollar.news
Vladimir Putinopen
Putin will resume trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the United States.
21 Oct · due 10 Nov · apnews.com
Volodymyr Zelenskyyopen
Ukraine would consider a 30-day halt to refinery strikes if Washington supplies Patriot interceptors.
20 Oct · afp.com
European Councilopen
The Commission will present concrete proposals on Ukraine's additional 2027 financing needs.
16 Oct · report.az
Brian Fitzpatrickopen
Fitzpatrick will introduce a House bill blocking Russian oil purchases.
10 Oct · rferl.org
Germanyopen
Germany will continue pursuing sanctions against Russia despite the US temporary suspension of restrictions on Russian diesel.
10 Oct · dw.com
Chronicle1,251 entries since 26 May
2–8 November15 entries
More than 200 Ukrainian drones caused fires and power cuts in Ryazan overnight into 5 November, governor Pavel Malkov said. Footage points to a fire at the Rosneft refinery, which officials have not confirmed.
Poland's Internal Security Agency detained six people, five Poles and a 37-year-old Russian woman, over alleged supplies of military materials to Russia. Four were placed in temporary custody on espionage charges.
Zelensky held a roughly 90-minute call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on 4 November, presenting Ukraine's proposals for Abu Dhabi and naming air defence, including more Patriot interceptors, as a priority. Washington called his engagement constructive.
Brussels opposed a proposal attributed to American negotiators to restart European imports of Russian gas through a pipeline via Ukraine, Politico reported on 4 November. The idea has added to European frustration with the US-led diplomatic approach ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks.
Drones struck an Ozon logistics centre in Adygeysk overnight into 4 November, setting a warehouse on fire. The company said all employees were evacuated and nobody was hurt.
A Russian drone attack hit a substation important to the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant, about 190 km from the Polish border, Ukraine's energy minister said. Kyiv halted tram and trolleybus services on the evening of 3 November after the overnight strike on the energy system.
Ukraine's central bank cut its 2026 forecast from 1.8% growth to a 0.4% contraction, citing Russian attacks on energy, rail and export routes and higher global energy prices, AP reported on 3 November. Steel output has stopped in places and grain shipments are disrupted.
Ukrainian drones targeted the Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl overnight into 3 November, with governor Mikhail Yevrayev reporting 124 drones and fires at the plant. At least four large Russian refineries have been struck since 30 October.
The European Commission will host Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK, NATO and the World Bank on 4 November to discuss postwar reconstruction. US attendance is unconfirmed. The meeting precedes the Abu Dhabi talks on 10-11 November.
Russian ballistic missiles and guided bombs hit a hospital in Kharkiv's Nemyshlianskyi district, wounding 73, while Russia's Defence Ministry claimed a massive strike on Ukrainian energy and Odesa port sites.
The Kremlin confirmed on 3 November that presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will head Russia's delegation to US-mediated talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November. Witkoff said the agenda covers security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian issues.
Exercise Koalicja will run from 9 to 22 November near Nowa Dęba in southeastern Poland, with about 3,000 personnel from 12 countries rehearsing how a Multinational Force Ukraine would move and be supplied after a ceasefire. The force would have no offensive role.
Ukrainian officials said repeated Russian strikes on a school serving as a humanitarian aid centre in Zaporizhzhia killed 26 people on 2 November, hours after the Oleshky truce expired. Earlier tallies cited 24 dead. Russia has not confirmed the account.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the Russian intelligence ship Viktor Leonov monitored NATO warships during the Strike Warrior exercise off Scotland. Royal Navy Merlin helicopters were sent to follow the vessel.
Reuters, citing the Wall Street Journal and US, European and Ukrainian officials, reported on 2 November that Washington supports a rapid resumption of Russian pipeline-gas sales to Europe through Ukraine as part of winter energy ceasefire discussions. No agreement has been announced.
26 October – 1 November21 entries
Zelensky posted General Staff figures on 1 November claiming 54,400 Russian losses in October, including 2,250 on 21 October as a daily record. Kyiv says losses now exceed Russia's capacity to replace troops. The figures are Ukrainian claims and not independently verified.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 31 October that Washington was reviewing proposals from Turkey and India to facilitate grain shipments and limit attacks on Black Sea shipping and energy infrastructure. No agreement has been announced.
The US State Department approved on 30 October a potential $2.1 billion sale of 500 PAC-3 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. Canada, Germany and Norway will finance it through the JUMPSTART programme, alongside funds tied to the EU's Ukraine Support Loan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would accept a call from Volodymyr Zelensky only if Kyiv places it. The leaders of Finland and Norway had already phoned Putin on 27 October.
The United States cancelled the group photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after European diplomats objected to standing beside Sergei Lavrov. Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski refused to pose with him. Lavrov's trip took over 20 hours because of airspace avoidance.
Pentagon officials asked several NATO countries, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to moderate public statements about the Russian threat, Reuters reported on 30 October. The request came as Washington pursues talks that involve pressing Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
France, Germany, Italy and eight other EU countries committed on 29 October to release 42.6 million barrels of strategic reserves by end-January 2027, including 20.5 million barrels of diesel. The move followed a G7 decision on stock releases; Lithuania endorsed it without signing.
Speaking after the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Putin said a war with Europe would have no winners. He said Moscow was ready to respond to any challenge, including in the Baltic Sea, and backs restoring full relations with European countries.
Lithuania's State Defence Council, chaired by President Gitanas Nauseda, agreed in Vilnius that men will be called up for general service from 2032. Annual call-ups would rise from more than 5,000 to about 7,500, pending parliament's approval.
A Russian jet-powered drone hit a platform at Dnipro's main railway station on 29 October as a commuter train prepared to depart, killing at least 13 people and wounding at least five, Reuters reported. The strike came during the local Oleshky truce.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on 29 October that no date had been proposed for the next trilateral meeting, with timing tied to the Middle East and the battlefield. Zelenskyy had proposed Abu Dhabi for 6–10 November.
Russia's Defence Ministry said on 29 October that air defences downed 1,214 Ukrainian drones over 19 regions, some more than 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. Moscow's mayor said most of 613 drones aimed at the capital were intercepted. The claims are unverified.
The Netherlands announced €500 million in military support for Ukraine this winter, intended mainly for drones and other defence equipment. A separate Dutch pledge covers €1.2 billion in non-military support over three years.
The United Kingdom announced £10 billion in further support for Ukraine, Reuters reported. It comprises £7 billion in economic support, £3 billion in export-finance capacity and £500 million in urgent military funding, including air-defence assistance.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said on 28 October that Ankara reserves the right to pursue legal action over strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, addressing both Russia and Ukraine.
Poland will host the only PAC-3 Patriot interceptor maintenance centre outside the United States, costing about 1 billion zloty. European armies now send the missiles to the US for checks. The site has not been disclosed.
Overnight on 27 October Russia attacked Kyiv with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones, Ukrainian officials said, hitting the South Bridge. The attack came as the local Oleshky pause began and talks were being prepared.
In a 27 October call with Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian PM Støre, Putin said Moscow would not accept compromises contrary to Russian interests and would keep seeking control of Donetsk and Luhansk. The two leaders had urged him to end the war.
The local ceasefire around Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson region began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on 27 October, two days before the date the White House announced. It is meant to open access for food and medicine and let residents leave.
apnews.com · clickondetroit.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com
Bloomberg, citing a presentation based on Ukrainian intelligence, reports Russia recruited 699 men from Burundi and 530 from Zimbabwe between January and September 2026, widening its African recruitment for the war in Ukraine.
Lublin's regional assembly voted unanimously on 26 October to end its 2004 cooperation agreement with Lviv oblast, and Przemyśl's city council suspended its partnership the same day. Both responded to Lviv's declaration of 2027 as a year dedicated to the UPA and Roman Shukhevych.
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