Ukraine

Europe News

NATO jets twice tried and failed to shoot down a drone over Lithuania

Four drones and dozens of suspected meteorological balloon sightings were detected moving from Belarus towards NATO's external border.

11 November 2026

Europe News

Ukraine-Russia peace talks enter second day with territory in focus

Ukraine and Russia resume US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, with Kyiv welcoming a shift in Washington's approach but major differences remaining over territory, security guarantees and the terms of a ceasefire.

11 November 2026

Europe Today

‘Constructive’ Abu Dhabi talks resume, but a ceasefire is nowhere near

Good morning. I’m Luca Bertuzzi, holding the pen for today’s newsletter. In this edition: a preview of the second day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, the backlash to Merz’s budget gambit, and why aid to Ukraine is becoming a sore point for several EU countries.

11 November 2026

EU News

Why talk of security architecture has struck a nerve in Europe

The focus on security architecture has struck a nerve among Europeans, who suspect Russia is using it as a ploy to divert attention from Ukraine and gain a bigger say on the continent's decision-making.

11 November 2026

Europe News

Costa seeks to reassure Merz after EU budget ultimatum

António Costa has replied to Friedrich Merz's controversial letter linking a deal on the EU budget to a deal on Ukraine aid. Four countries have already pushed back against the German chancellor's ultimatum.

10 November 2026

Europe News

Italian government splits over aid to Kyiv after joining Abu Dhabi

The Italian government coalition has split over the military aid to Ukraine, just after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni secured a seat for Rome in the peace talks session in Abu Dhabi.

10 November 2026

Europe News

EU budget battle erupts as four countries defy Merz over Ukraine aid

Slovakia's Robert Fico accused the German chancellor of "blackmail" as four EU countries resisted his demand to link approval of the bloc's next long-term budget to fresh financial support for Ukraine.

10 November 2026

Europe Today

Former NATO chief: Europe must fight for a place at peace talks

Former NATO boss Anders Fogh Rasumussen warned Europe against merely pleading to part of the US-brokered ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, saying that securing a seat at the negotiating table comes through strength, not “begging”.

10 November 2026

Europe News

Ukraine and Russia show 'a little bit of flexibility' on territory

The renewed US-mediated negotiations come amid deep divisions over territorial concessions and post-war security guarantees, with European leaders pressing for a role in discussions that could reshape the continent's security.

10 November 2026

Europe Today

Merz’s budget gamble: no Ukraine funding, no EU budget

Good morning. I’m Luca Bertuzzi, holding the pen for today’s newsletter. In this edition: Merz ties the EU budget to unanimous financial support for Ukraine, Europe sends a delegation to Abu Dhabi but stays outside the trilateral talks, and the Black Sea strategy struggles to stay afloat.

10 November 2026

Europe News

Who's who from Ukraine and Russia at the Abu Dhabi peace talks?

The composition of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations at the Abu Dhabi peace talks offers clues to what could be discussed behind closed doors as US-mediated negotiations resume for the first time in nine months.

10 November 2026

Europe News

No deal on Ukraine aid? Then no deal on EU budget, Merz says

The stakes for the EU budget have risen sharply as the German chancellor ties the deal to approving an additional €45 billion for Kyiv. "Supporting Ukraine is a matter of our indivisible European security," Merz said in a letter to Council President Antonio Costa.

9 November 2026

Europe News

Ukrainian MFA hits back at Mélenchon over Donbas referendum

The leader of the hard-left France Unbowed party declared that Ukrainians living in the Donbas should be "consulted' on their future.

9 November 2026

Russia

Ukraine hits Russia’s second-largest refinery, Rosneft caps sales

Three main processing units at the KINEF plant which handles about 7% of Russia’s refining capacity and supplies St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport were damaged. Rosneft separately capped fuel sales in six regions, limiting drivers to 30 litres per transaction in cities.

9 November 2026

Partner content

How repairing homes is helping rebuild lives in Ukraine

Partner content presented by UNHCR

Nearly five years into Russia’s war, millions of Ukrainians face a housing crisis as UNHCR and EU-backed partners repair homes and create new shelter.

9 November 2026

Europe News

EU to send joint team to Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi

A joint EU team will be present at the peace talks in Abu Dhabi, together with France, Germany and the UK. The possibility of engaging directly with the Russians, never done before, remains on the table.

9 November 2026