Some European countries believe that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will eventually win in Ukraine, according to Bundestag member Jürgen Hardt from the ruling Christian Democratic Union, UkrInform reports. This conviction persists despite Ukraine successfully defending against the attacks of the world’s largest country for 11 years. 

The Trump administration is demanding that a foundational UN resolution on Ukraine be stripped of language affirming the country's territorial integrity and condemning Russian occupation, Kyiv Post reports, citing two people familiar with internal UN discussions.

The annual resolution has served since 2014 as the international community's most consistent diplomatic rebuke of Russia's occupation of Crimea and other Ukrainian territories. Last December, 78 countries – including the United States – voted to affirm Ukraine's sovereignty and document human rights abuses in Russian-held areas.

Now Washington wants those references gone. According to Kyiv Post's sources, US officials are pressing for the resolution to be recast under the vague label "war in Ukraine," with specific mentions of "territorial integrity," "aggression," and Crimea's annexation removed entirely.

The vote is scheduled for the coming weeks at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee.

What the White House wants erased

The resolution's formal title already telegraphs what's at stake: situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The word "temporarily" matters.

It signals that the international community recognizes these territories as Ukrainian, just under hostile occupation.

Kyiv Post's sources say US officials want to strip:

• All references to Ukraine's "territorial integrity" and sovereignty
• Language condemning Russia's "aggression"
• Specific mentions of Crimea's 2014 annexation
• Documentation of systematic human rights violations in occupied areas

"This is another example of Washington walking away from Ukraine's core interests at a critical diplomatic juncture," a European envoy told Kyiv Post. "If the language goes, the message to Moscow is that the US is no longer leading the defense of the international order."

That's diplomatic speak for: Putin wins.

Timing reveals the pattern

The push comes as a new UN report details exactly the abuses Washington now wants to stop formally condemning. The report documents forced deportations, torture, suppression of Ukrainian identity, mandatory Russian citizenship requirements, and persecution of Ukrainian speakers in occupied territories.

Russia has spent over a decade trying to erase the international consensus that Crimea and other occupied areas belong to Ukraine. Every year since 2014, this resolution has stood as the UN's answer: No, we still recognize Ukraine's borders. Yes, Russia is an occupying power.

Remove "territorial integrity" from the text, and you've handed Moscow its biggest diplomatic victory since the invasion began. You've signaled that Western resolve is cracking, that Russia just needs to wait out the clock, that changing borders by force might actually work if you're patient enough.

European diplomats speaking to Kyiv Post made this explicit: once removing 'territorial integrity' from UN documents starts, there will be changing the entire framework of international law. 

Another crack in the Western front

The resolution has historically passed with strong support – 78 countries voted yes last year, with only 15 voting no (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and the usual Moscow-aligned bloc) and 82 abstentions.

But that was before the Trump administration began systematically pressuring Ukraine to accept territorial concessions while questioning continued military aid. The weakened resolution would fit neatly into a pattern: Washington undercutting Ukraine's position, then presenting the resulting erosion of support as evidence that Kyiv should "be realistic" about what it can achieve.

Ukraine's diplomatic team is now working to preserve the resolution's core language without US backing. 

Either outcome would mark a turning point: the moment the international community stopped unanimously affirming that Ukraine's borders matter, that occupation is illegal, that changing borders by force violates the rules that prevent global chaos.

Moscow has been waiting for this moment since February 2022. According to Kyiv Post's reporting, the Trump administration is about to give it to them.

The Verona Philharmonic Theatre has withdrawn Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov from its upcoming production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni," scheduled for 18-25 January, reports Reuters.

The Arena di Verona Foundation announced the cancellation without providing reasons. Abdrazakov's representative declined an interview request, saying the singer was "too busy."

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli endorsed the decision. "Russian art and culture" are welcome "when they serve as a vehicle for dialogue and peace between peoples," Giuli said, but not "when they become a propaganda tool serving a despotic power that cannot and must not have citizenship rights in the free world."

European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno called the cancellation a victory against "the propaganda of Putin and the Kremlin."

The Anti-Corruption Foundation and advocacy group Liberi Oltre le Illusioni had pressed for Abdrazakov's exclusion, citing his inclusion on Putin's list of trusted representatives during the 2024 presidential elections and his membership in the Presidential Council for Culture and Arts.

In 2024, Putin appointed Abdrazakov head of the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theatre in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The same year, he received a state award from the Russian president.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the 49-year-old performed at London's Covent Garden, New York's Metropolitan Opera, and Milan's La Scala. By 2023, these venues had stopped working with him. Abdrazakov claimed he withdrew himself in protest against what he called a boycott of Russian performers, including soprano Anna Netrebko. Naples' Teatro di San Carlo also ended its collaboration with him in 2024.

In December 2022, Abdrazakov performed at La Scala in "Boris Godunov" amid protests against Russia's invasion. In July, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev had a concert cancelled in Italy under similar circumstances, drawing complaints from Moscow.

The Arena di Verona Foundation's website describes Abdrazakov as "one of opera's most sought-after basses and one of his generation's most celebrated and recognised artists."

The era of nuclear arms reduction is officially over. The world is returning to a trend of expanding nuclear arsenals, intensifying nuclear rhetoric, and abandoning arms control agreements, says Hans Kristensen, Associate Senior Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Weapons of Mass Destruction Program, per Newsweek.

According to Kristensen, the world is witnessing the growth of nuclear stockpiles, the escalation of rhetoric, and the rejection of arms control.

The US launches Minuteman III after Russian military drills 

In recent weeks, the US has conducted a test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, without a warhead, but with a clear political message. 

The test was a response to recent Russian military drills, which took place after the collapse of the planned US President Donald Trump– Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in Budapest regarding the war in Ukraine. Russia has not demonstrated readiness to make concessions or even discuss compromise conditions to end hostilities. 

The US military said the purpose of the launch was to evaluate the reliability, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system.

The Kremlin starts with a “Yars” launch 

Before the American Minuteman III was launched, Russia launched a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, which hit its target at the Kura range in Kamchatka.

The Kremlin stated that the exercise aimed to test the readiness of its military command structures. Putin personally observed the process.

Following the tests, Trump stated that he could work on denuclearization with Russia and China, but acknowledged that both countries could catch up to the US within four to five years.

China, the US, and Russia form a new nuclear triad

All three nuclear powers — China, the United States, and Russia — now possess a complete nuclear triad: intercontinental missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and nuclear-capable aircraft. This ensures that each has the ability to deliver a retaliatory strike, even after sustaining an initial attack.

It remains unclear whether Beijing or Moscow will respond with new tests. One thing is clear: the world has entered a phase of dangerous nuclear modernization.

Russian occupiers die by the hundreds in hellish meat grinder near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. According to the Hostri Kartuzi or "Peaky Blinders" unit of the Ukrainian Army, the occupation troops pay an enormous price for every square meter of Ukrainian land. 

Ukrainian troops use drones to take out the Russian military outside Pokrovsk

“Truly colossal losses of the Russian army near Rodynske,” the unit reported in a caption to photos published on its Telegram channel. (Warning! Graphic content) 

Russian occupying forces are suffering enormous manpower losses, trying to fulfill the military command’s orders to achieve success in the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration at any cost. 

Earlier, Mykola Malomuzh, a former head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service and Army General, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered his forces to seize Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and the entire Pokrovsk agglomeration by 15 November. 

According to the Ukrainian soldiers, almost all the occupiers shown in the images were eliminated by drones.

“Dozens of charred or torn bodies of Russian soldiers lie in the open on the approaches to the city,” the Hostri Kartuzi wrote. 

The Ukrainian defenders emphasized that Russian forces are assaulting positions by “throwing in meat,"  without tactics or strategy. They added that Russia is ready to sacrifice thousands of its troops for even minimal territorial gains.

“So when you see reports of Russian advances on maps, remember the price the occupier pays for every square meter of Ukrainian land,” they said. 

What does Ukraine's General Staff say? 

On the Pokrovsk front, since the start of the day, the Russians have launched 38 assaults in an attempt to dislodge Ukrainian defenders from their positions.

Ukrainian Defense Forces have repelled 36 attacks, are conducting active counter-operations, and have achieved advances of up to 0.4 kilometers in certain areas. 

The situation is on the brink

Russian occupying forces have not encircled Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast, but intense fighting continues inside the city. Small assault groups of Russian troops are attempting to infiltrate urban areas, according to Artem Prybylnov, Head of Communications for the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade. 

In his comments for the Kyiv24 channel, he said that Russian troops are actively utilizing attack and reconnaissance drones, as well as artillery, and maintain a superiority in manpower.

“The city is a commanding height, and its loss would be painful for the entire front. We must stabilize the situation and do everything possible to prevent its capture," Prybylnov said. 

He added that Russian assault units had been preparing for months for urban fighting aimed at taking Pokrovsk, but are now moving chaotically through the city.

Over the past day, Russian forces have made limited advances within Pokrovsk, where the situation remains on the verge of critical.

Analysts from DeepState reported that Russian troops are establishing observation posts and entrenching themselves in several districts of the city.

According to the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces, Ukrainian troops have improved their tactical positions in several neighborhoods while continuing to hold off numerically superior Russian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his soldiers an ambitious task. Mykola Malomuzh, former head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service and Army General, says he has ordered his forces to seize Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and the entire Pokrovsk agglomeration by 15 November, Kyiv24 has reported.

Putin wants to dictate the terms amid Trump's change of stance 

“Putin’s strategic goal is to demonstrate that he can conquer specific territories ... especially after Trump’s shift in stance and his meeting with Xi Jinping, showing that he can dictate the terms,” Malomuzh explains.

The general emphasizes that the Kremlin seeks a political effect, aiming to project success domestically while signaling power abroad.

Putin sends 17,000 troops to Pokrovsk

According to Malomuzh, Putin has redeployed around 17,000 soldiers to assault Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. Russian forces are attempting to cut Ukrainian supply lines and create a “model of encirclement or semi-encirclement.”

Strikes on morale and energy infrastructure

Malomuzh adds that attacks on civilian infrastructure are part of a broader campaign to weaken Ukrainian morale, disrupt the economy, and pressure the international community to scale back its support for Kyiv.

“Another goal is to showcase Russia’s weaponry, including nuclear arms,” he says.

Earlier, Ukraine’s monitoring project DeepState reported that Russian forces from the 170,000 grouping continue infiltrating Pokrovsk. As of the evening of 2 November, the occupying troops advanced even further into the city. 

The Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back Russia's assault, having already repelled 36 attacks, conducted active operations, and achieved certain successes. In some areas, our units have advanced up to 0.4 kilometers, as per the General Staff. 

Russian military aircraft have returned to Syria’s Hmeimim airbase between 24–29 October, ending a months-long suspension that began in March 2025 after President Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed in December 2024. The renewed activity follows Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s 15 October visit to Moscow, where he pledged to uphold existing agreements on key Russian military installations in Syria.

The move underscores Moscow’s urgency to preserve its strategic infrastructure amid shifting alliances in the Middle East. Reactivating Hmeimim enables Russia to sustain logistical operations stretching from Africa to the Mediterranean, directly countering predictions that Moscow would lose its Syrian strongholds after Assad’s fall.

A strategic pivot or an effort to save face?

A source close to the Kremlin told Bloomberg that Russia has fully resumed operations at Hmeimim airbase, corroborated by open-source flight tracking data. A Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-62M transport aircraft flew from Libya to Latakia on 26 October before continuing to Moscow. Meanwhile, Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan heavy cargo planes — capable of hauling tanks and air defense systems — landed at Hmeimim three times between 24–29 October.

Military flights to Hmeimim airbase in Syria have resumed after a nearly six-month pause, as Moscow and Damascus seek to restore ties following the ousting of Russia’s ally, Bashar al-Assad.he ousting of Russia’s ally, Bashar al-Assad.

"The renewal of flights indicates an effort by Russia and Syria to rebuild their bilateral relations after a period of instability for the Syrian leadership," Bloomberg reported.

Putin seeks guarantees as Syria’s new leadership redefines terms

During al-Sharaa’s 15 October Kremlin meeting — his first since taking power — the Syrian president vowed to “respect all agreements concluded throughout the great history” of bilateral relations. His pledge came despite leading Hayat Tahrir al-Sham forces, which had toppled the Assad government that Russia once fought to preserve.

Putin, striking a pragmatic tone, said Moscow was ready to renew cooperation on “interesting and useful beginnings” and praised Syria’s recent parliamentary elections.

Talks reportedly focused on Russian involvement in Syrian oil and infrastructure projects. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced that agreements made with the previous regime are suspended and "not accepted," a statement seen as directly targeting the status of Russia's Assad-era deals.

Diplomatic engagement is accelerating. A Syrian Foreign Ministry delegation visited Moscow on 27 October to reopen the country’s embassy, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Syrian Defense Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qusra led a three-day official visit to the Russian Federation with senior military officials to discuss renewed defense cooperation, SANA reported.

Russia’s strategic foothold amid wartime strains

Reestablishing operations in Syria is vital for Russia’s ability to project power across multiple regions. The Hmeimim and Tartus bases have long served as logistical lifelines for Russian troops and affiliated units — including the Wagner Group and Africa Corps — active in the Middle East and Africa.

Losing either base would have been a significant strategic setback for Moscow, Bloomberg noted, as the Kremlin remains entangled in a confrontation it created with the United States and Europe over the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has reportedly courted Syria’s new administration, meeting al-Sharaa twice this year, while Washington and the EU have begun easing sanctions on Damascus.

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has forced it to withdraw much of its expeditionary force from Syria. Maintaining a reduced presence now marks a symbolic win. Still, Bloomberg noted, Russia’s footprint in Syria is expected to be smaller than it was under Assad.

Syria positions itself for reconstruction investments

Syria has attracted $28 billion in investments during the first six months after amending investment laws, President al-Sharaa announced at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. The president emphasized reconstruction should rely on investment rather than foreign aid.

Moscow portrays itself as a benevolent partner keen to answer the call for help.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russian companies are eager to participate in rebuilding Syria’s oil fields, transport networks, and energy systems. “Our companies are interested in using Russian equipment inside Syria, and this topic was discussed extensively during the meeting between Presidents Putin and Al-Sharaa,” Novak told reporters, highlighting Moscow’s long-standing experience in Syria’s energy sector.

Read also:

• Ukrainian troops crush elite Russian Spetsnaz "Senezh", involved in operations in Syria: commander killed, six eliminated
• Syria cancels Russian port lease, forcing military withdrawal from Tartus

Russia uses "peace initiatives" to create an illusion of control and victory. In recent days, Russian generals reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the alleged encirclement of three Ukrainian cities — Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Kupiansk, 24 Kanal reports, citing Russian media.

Ukraine has refuted the occupiers’ claims. In response, the Kremlin leader decided to “prove” he wasn’t lying, and issued a bizarre order.

Russia’s Defense Ministry of Defense received Putin’s order to ensure the passage of foreign journalists to visit areas in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Kupiansk, where, supposedly, Ukrainian troops are “encircled.”

“Encirclement exists only in Putin’s imagination”: Ukraine responds

According to the Ukrainian defense forces, Russian command is prepared, if necessary, to halt combat operations for 5–6 hours in these areas.

The occupiers also reportedly expressed readiness to provide corridors for the unrestricted entry and exit of groups of foreign, including Ukrainian, journalists, on the condition of safety guarantees for both reporters and Russian soldiers.

Victor Trehubov, Head of Communications for the Joint Forces Group, has reacted to the situation in Kupiansk and Putin’s absurd order. 

“How can one even respond to that? The encirclement of Kupiansk exists only in Putin’s imagination,” the officer said.

He added that there is currently no question of any “encirclement” of the city.

“Ilovaisk-2”: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's warning

At the same time, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi recalled Russia’s treacherous actions in Ilovaisk.

“Frankly, I wouldn’t recommend any reporters trust any of Putin’s proposals for ‘corridors’ in combat zones. I saw with my own eyes how such promises are staged on 29 August 2014, in Ilovaisk. Putin’s only goal is to prolong the war,” wrote Tykhyi.

Back then, Russians promised Ukrainian forces a safe withdrawal from the Ilovaisk encirclement through a humanitarian corridor. Ukrainian troops began withdrawing in organized columns along the agreed routes, but soon, Russian forces opened fire.

During the battles for Ilovaisk in August 2014, 366 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 429 were wounded.

Such “ceasefires for the cameras” could once again serve as cover for war crimes.

Russian officials are escalating nuclear threats toward the United States while President Vladimir Putin touts new nuclear systems. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that a senior Russian lawmaker suggested Moscow could deploy nuclear-capable missiles to Venezuela and Cuba, invoking Cold War fears just as Putin unveils new underwater and airborne nuclear weapons.

Russia threatens to send nukes to Latin America

On 29 October, Russian State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairperson Alexei Zhuravlyov said Moscow could deliver nuclear-capable missiles to “Venezuela or Cuba,” emphasizing their proximity to what he called Russia’s “main geopolitical adversary” — the United States. Zhuravlyov declared that the US is “not a friend or partner” but an “enemy.”

Putin boasts of new nuclear weapons 

Putin announced on 29 October that Russia tested its Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle a day earlier. 

"Putin is detailing the alleged attributes of the weapons to add weight and urgency to his nuclear threats to enact concessions from the United States on Ukraine," ISW wrote.

The timing of Putin’s remarks directly followed US President Donald Trump’s 27 October call for the Kremlin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine instead of testing missiles. Putin’s announcements appear aimed at demonstrating defiance and projecting strength. According to ISW, the Russian leader is using nuclear rhetoric to force concessions from Trump and European governments "that his army cannot achieve on the battlefield."

Belarus to deploy Oreshnik missile system

Russia is also using Belarus to threaten Europe. Belarusian Presidential Press Secretary Natalya Eismont told Kremlin newswire TASS on 28 October that the Oreshnik missile system will go on combat duty in December 2025. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the move was a response to what he called “Russophobic statements” and “militaristic hysteria” from Europe.

Peskov pointed to officials in the Baltics, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom as justification for the deployment, calling the system “dear” to both Belarus and Russia. Putin had previously announced that Russian and Belarusian specialists would decide on new deployment sites for Oreshnik by the end of 2025.

"Russia is leveraging the Oreshnik system as part of a reflexive control campaign aimed at undermining Western resolve to militarily support Ukraine," ISW wrote.

A leaked 12-point peace proposal circulating in European capitals aims to pause Russia’s war in Ukraine within just 24 hours. RFE/RL reports that the draft, initiated by Finland and developed by over 20 pro-Ukraine countries, envisions freezing the front line, barring Ukraine from taking back occupied territories by military means, and establishing long-term negotiations on the future of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ceasefire first: freezing the war overnight

The plan is structured in two phases — ceasefire and negotiations. The first phase outlines that hostilities would stop “24 hours after the parties have accepted this plan,” RFE/RL reports. At the start of the proposed ceasefire, the line of contact would then be frozen, with no further military movements allowed. Kyiv and Moscow would commit to a mutual nonaggression pact, meaning Russia must stop attacks while Ukraine agrees not to retake occupied areas such as the regions of Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia by military means.

Ceasefire monitoring would begin immediately under US leadership using satellites, drones, and other technologies. A Trump-chaired “Board of Peace” is proposed to oversee the process, a concept reportedly borrowed from a recent plan for Gaza.

According to RFE/RL, confidence-building measures include the lifting of selected symbolic sanctions after the ceasefire holds for an agreed period. Russia could be readmitted to international organizations such as the International Olympic Committee or the Council of Europe, which expelled Moscow in 2022. The plan also proposes transferring control of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to an unnamed third party, with negotiations on returning it to Ukraine.

Negotiation phase: security zones, occupied land talks, and Russian narratives

Once the ceasefire is in place, the second phase would begin with an armistice and formal negotiations. These talks would determine a final line of contact, which would remain in effect until a long-term governance agreement for the occupied territories is reached. RFE/RL says that civilian multinational missions would monitor both sides of the security zone established along this line, where no military activity would be permitted.

Explore further

Reuters: Trump could unleash new sanctions on Russia’s economy, but waits to see if Europe dares move first

One of the points includes undisclosed security guarantees — an element the so-called Coalition of the Willing has been shaping since spring. Another proposed element calls for a high-level dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow “to increase mutual understanding and respect for diversity of language, culture, and religion.”

A particularly controversial point involves initiating talks on “permanent governance of the occupied territories.” Many EU capitals view this as incompatible with Ukraine’s territorial integrity and oppose the idea of legalizing Russian control over parts of Ukrainian land.

Explore further

Trump says he won’t meet Putin unless “we’re going to make a deal”

Frozen Russian assets and the question of compensation

The penultimate point in the draft addresses reconstruction. A new fund for Ukraine would be created, and frozen Russian assets could be used to finance rebuilding. As RFE/RL notes, over €200 billion (around $233 billion) are currently held in the West. These could be returned to Russia only after an agreement on war damage compensation is reached between Kyiv and Moscow.

EU official: “There won’t be peace — that’s Putin’s one-point-plan”

Despite the detailed proposal, RFE/RL quotes one European official admitting that the plan’s chances of success are “probably not much.” While some hope the United States might support elements of it, most diplomats doubt that the Kremlin will accept any of the core terms. 

“We can have a 12-point-plan, but there won’t be peace — that is Putin’s one-point-plan,” a European diplomat said.

Though she never really left. Beyond Vienna, she continued performing at Berlin’s Staatsoper and Arena di Verona from 2022 to 2025. But most major opera houses tried to avoid her, following the lead of the Metropolitan Opera, which cancelled her planned engagements in the spring of 2022 and never allowed her to return.

The decision was logical. Netrebko received awards from Putin and was his representative during elections, sang in the Kremlin, donated to the opera in Donetsk under the control of Russian paramilitaries, and posed with the “Novorossiya” flag in 2015. In 2022, she only wrote a watered-down statement as if condemning the war.

But now something has changed. On 2 November, Zürich Opera opens its run of Verdi’s “La forza del destino”, and the controversial Russian soprano will lead as Leonora, shortly after her recent performances at Covent Garden, despite protests in Britain and now Switzerland.

Given Netrebko’s complicated history, this has sparked a heated debate that spans a broad spectrum between uncompromising radical rejections and uncritical acceptance in the spirit of “anything goes”.

In particular, Zürich Opera Intendant Matthias Schulz—who had already brought Netrebko to Berlin during his tenure there—arduously defended his decision in an interview in Neue Zürcher Zeitung on 16 October. In a commentary on 17 October, the editorial team found the arguments to be strong. But should we follow the bandwagon of this reborn Netrebko enthusiasm?

Bridges to the Moscow mafia?

Mr Schulz chose to “accentuate the positive” of “building bridges”. What a commendable, noble initiative! However, this begs a question: why do we have to build bridges through Netrebko, and where are those bridges intended to go from Zürich?

Vienna, perhaps, where she lives? Is it maybe war-torn Ukraine, whose culture and identity are being destroyed? Perhaps by staging an opera by a Ukrainian composer or even commissioning one, as the Metropolitan Opera did in 2023? Neither of these is happening.

Netrebko is not just any Russian artist–we are not talking about “all Russians”. Her career was fostered by powerful patrons in Russia; her longstanding ties to Putin’s friends, such as Valery Gergiev, are widely documented. She owes these people, no matter what her staff says in their statements now. Gergiev, rumoured to be Putin’s children’s godfather, was particularly instrumental in launching her career almost singlehandedly.

Honest Russian musicians, many of whom I have known for a long time in Europe, openly talk about Gergiev as “the Putin of Russian music”. Gergiev turned institutions under his control into mafia-like clan structures, presiding over the fates of musicians and singers. This is his network, and Netrebko is part of it.

Gergiev is always “at the ready” to serve Putin, and some classical music has turned into propaganda in Tskhinvali (Russian-occupied South Ossetia), Palmyra, or, indeed, Italy, where he unsuccessfully tried to make inroads last summer. In the same way, Netrebko owes favours to Gergiev–and Putin. These deeply personal, informal patron-client networks never dissolve.

Music theatre directors, such as Mr Schulz, are also apparently friends of Netrebko and try to shield her in bad faith, rather than out of concern for artistic freedom. This is not surprising as these same people also cherished their relations with the Russian classical music “mafia dons” such as Gergiev, conductor Theodor Currentzis (closely affiliated with Russian banks and governmental structures), or “Putin’s cashier” and cellist Sergei Roldugin, turning them into staples of Western concert halls and theatres.

“I want to sit on two chairs, even three if necessary”, Netrebko said in her own words about her “doing the splits between East and West”. If she doesn’t perform in Russia now, it shows her pragmatic distancing from the rotten herring—her Russian friends. They, too, may want to distance themselves pragmatically from Netrebko, who isn’t the woman of the moment inside Russia due to her deep integration into the Western context and institutions.

Surely it would have been convenient for both to sit it out, but as the war drags on and will likely continue for the foreseeable future, Netrebko chose the West out of comfort, not because of the government she had supported up to 2021. Cold, pure, calculating, cynical pragmatism–not a clean moral break with a criminal regime.

Dirty people’s pure art

The defense is always the same: she’s too great an artist. But this ignores decades of debate about art’s complicity in power.

Walter Benjamin warned that every document of civilization is also a document of barbarism. And Theodore Adorno asked, “How can one write poetry after Auschwitz?”

Art is not merely a technical skill but a projection of specific ideological and political values. This is not about diminishing the status of art; in fact, art’s political context has a positive function. When we enjoy Wagner’s operas, only professional musicians appreciate the use of enharmonicism to modulate between distant tonalities. The public enjoys stories of love, betrayal, and power—deeply political.

This, of course, is a choice everyone has to make for themselves. But I doubt that Romans enjoyed Nero’s vocal technique as Rome burned.

The perfect conformist

Thankfully, Ms Netrebko did none of those things. Her advocates say that, in fact, she is not a war supporter, evidenced by her agreeing to perform in houses that sided with Ukraine, such as Zürich, and a couple of statements furnished by her lawyers.

But this is an extremely low standard. Do we lack so much in self-respect that we are grateful to Netrebko for tolerating us? She can do better than “not support war”.

The legendary conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler stayed in the Third Reich, earning more controversy than Netrebko has ever faced. Goebbels hailed Furtwängler’s foreign concerts as “German triumphs,” just as Moscow will claim Netrebko’s performances.

But Furtwängler used his position to save dozens of persecuted musicians, donated his concert proceeds to refugees, and risked his life defying Hitler. He systematically refused to give the “Hitler salute” to the Führer himself, challenged his and Goebbels’s authority over German music. What is Netrebko contributing? A statement through her lawyer.

Passive complicity

In her own account, one thing stands out: she is always a passive object. She didn’t know or understand; she was simply given the flag. Such passivity is out of character, especially with someone who built such an efficient career with a sharp focus and ruthless pragmatism.

This suggests dishonesty or indifference. Actually, Putin fosters this attitude of indifferent passivity in Russian society, preferring docile perpetrators to even active war supporters, as historian Jade McGlynn shows in “Russia’s War.”

What is needed is simply staying within the lines drawn by the government, ready to do whatever you are told to do. In short, precisely Netrebko’s behaviour: when needed, you sing in the Kremlin or in London; if necessary for your continued influence in the West, you may even disown your Kremlin masters publicly.

In fact, her lukewarm condemnations of war reflect this passivity: she bends to whatever power that be. If the elite consensus in Europe is to condemn the war, she will follow the crowd. If Europeans tomorrow demand worshipping the Flying Spaghetti Monster, she will do that—because she doesn’t care about anything but her personal promotion.

A perfect conformism combined with self-serving profiteering. This may be even understandable at a human level. But must Europeans really fund this with their tax money through their publicly financed opera houses?

To prove she actively resists the war, it would be right for her to donate her entire proceeds from Zürich to displaced Ukrainians, especially Ukrainian musicians and composers; or better still, to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is at least what Furtwängler would do. Will Ms Netrebko and Mr Schulz rise to the challenge?

The short answer is: no. I don’t believe this. But miracles might happen. As unlikely as this supernatural act would be, one thing is certain, despite the current ardour of Netrebko supporters: the angel of history will be kind neither to her nor to them.

Roman Horbyk

Roman Horbyk is a Ukrainian media scholar and journalist at the University of Zürich. He holds a PhD in media studies from Södertörn University and has written on Russian propaganda, media politics, and the weaponization of culture in the post-Soviet space.

Editor's note. The opinions expressed in our Opinion section belong to their authors. Euromaidan Press' editorial team may or may not share them.

Submit an opinion to Euromaidan Press

British neurosurgeon and writer Henry Marsh, 75, who has been supporting Ukrainian medicine since 1992, spoke with Ukrainska Pravda about his decades-long work in Ukraine, medical errors, and attitudes toward death—both his own and others'.

Marsh first arrived in Kyiv in 1992 by chance, when a British businessman importing medical equipment to the post-Soviet space needed a neurosurgeon to lecture on modern surgical techniques.

"Although I knew that medicine in the USSR lagged behind Western medicine, I was still shocked at how bad everything was," Marsh recalls.

What began as a one-time trip turned into a 30-year partnership with Ukrainian hospitals. For years, he brought surgical equipment in suitcases, trained young doctors, and performed operations alongside Ukrainian colleagues.

Now retired from surgery for about a decade, Marsh continues visiting Ukraine—but to teach rather than operate.

"When I come to Ukraine, I lecture young doctors and students. I spent the last few days in Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava, and now in Kyiv," he says.

"It's hard to imagine anything more disgusting"

Marsh recalls a conversation between Putin and Xi Jinping about organ transplants for eternal life.

"It's hard to imagine anything more disgusting. And at the same time, Putin is killing tens of thousands of young Ukrainians, hundreds of thousands of Russians—only for himself. This is terrible. This is blasphemy. This is disgusting," he says.

When asked about life extension research, Marsh expresses strong opposition. "Putin and Xi Jinping were talking about organ transplants to extend their lives. And, as is known, in China they executed prisoners and used their organs for transplants—this may be 'rational,' but absolutely barbaric."

"I think research aimed at making it possible to live to 150 years is a very bad idea. Because only billionaires will be able to afford it. And this will only increase social inequality—the evil that is now growing in many societies, especially in Britain and the USA, where the gap between rich and poor is becoming increasingly deeper," Marsh argues.

He adds a scientific caveat: "However, the brain cannot be transplanted. And after 85, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is almost 45%. So perhaps Xi Jinping and Putin will someday have new young kidneys, liver, lungs, blood from young donors—but the brain will remain old and sick. Like Brezhnev at the end of his life."

War's impact on Ukrainian children

Discussing the psychological consequences of war, Marsh calls it "without exaggeration, a unique 'experiment'—Europe hasn't had such a large war for many decades." He predicts Ukraine will face a massive post-traumatic stress disorder problem, noting that research from American and British soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan shows those with pre-existing psychological problems face higher PTSD risks.

"But there's a limit for everyone—everyone breaks if suffering lasts too long," he adds.

After the Vietnam War, the situation in the US worsened because "soldiers returned home and society rejected them. They fought in a 'bad war' that no one wanted to remember." In Ukraine, the situation is different: "Your military definitely knows what they're fighting for."

"But after the war ends, other serious problems will remain—rebuilding the country and, of course, children. A generation of children is growing up in Ukraine, deeply traumatized by war: many have lost their homes, relatives, years of education. This will have long-term consequences—psychological, social, and educational," Marsh warns.

British support for Ukraine

On support for Ukraine in Britain, Marsh is unequivocal: "You won't hear any voices—either in politics or media—that question support for Ukraine. Perhaps this will change someday, but currently, no politician says support for Ukraine should be stopped. Absolutely no one. And I think this will continue."

He attributes this to British culture: "Despite all its flaws, Britain has a strong tradition of supporting those called 'underdogs.' This is a deeply rooted sense of justice. After all, most international sports—football, rugby, tennis, cricket, and others—originated precisely in Britain. Following rules and fair play are an integral part of our culture. And it's obvious that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is absolute evil."

Marsh himself continues helping: he and friends recently purchased and delivered an off-road vehicle to soldiers on the front lines. "I think we all should do what we can. Support for Ukraine in England currently raises no questions," he says.

"Hope is one of the most powerful medicines we have"

Reflecting on the balance between empathy and professional detachment, Marsh admits finding it "with certain difficulties." He quotes one of his mentors: "We must never lie to patients, but we must never deprive them of hope. Sometimes this is very difficult."

"That's why we as doctors must radiate hope, confidence, positivity, and care. All of this is an extremely important component of the holistic complex of surgical care. Being a surgeon is much more than just operating in the operating room," he says.

When asked what's harder—operating or delivering bad news—Marsh doesn't hesitate: "Bad news is much harder. Operating is easy. Talking with patients is much more difficult. Even harder is communicating with colleagues, building relationships in the team. These are the most difficult parts of medicine. Surgery is simple compared to this. Sounds strange, but it's true."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on 29 October that the country had successfully tested its nuclear torpedo, “Poseidon.” This is a long-range underwater drone capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Newsweek reports. 

Catastrophic radioactive waves

The Poseidon system, sometimes referred to in Western media as a “nuclear super-tornado,” is designed to bypass existing US missile defense systems and potentially generate catastrophic radioactive waves against coastal targets.

Poseidon, officially known as the multipurpose oceanic system Status-6, is an autonomous underwater torpedo with a nuclear engine, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 100 megatons.

The strategic and environmental consequences are significant. The Poseidon warhead is assumed to be a cobalt bomb, which maximizes long-term radioactive contamination.

According to NukeMap models cited by Balestrieri, a detonation could render an area roughly 1,700 by 300 kilometers uninhabitable due to radioactive fallout or create a “nuclear tsunami” affecting coastal cities.

"The power of Poseidon significantly exceeds that of our most advanced intercontinental missile, Sarmat. There is nothing like it in the world," Russian President Vladimir Putin said. 

Intimidating the US amid Trump’s peace initiatives

Military expert Ivan Stupak says the Poseidon test is a threat to the abstract Western world, which has access to the world’s oceans.

"They are trying to show the world that they possess these superweapons. The whole world should supposedly be frightened, especially Europeans, and agree to any of Russia’s conditions," the expert explains.

Stupak adds, "The question is how quickly they can produce them: one, two, three per year. Overall, a nuclear reactor is not a cheap undertaking," UNIAN reports. 

Another military expert, Oleksandr Kovalenko, commented on Putin’s statement, emphasizing that the Kremlin leader is once again showcasing missiles that no one has seen.

It is evident that Vladimir Putin “has shifted into a mode of intimidating Donald Trump,” the expert writes.

"The gas station that recently began importing fuel from China cannot respond economically or mirror sanctions, so they are trying to intimidate," he suggested. 

The Poseidon test is part of a series of nuclear threat statements that Russia intensified after the cancellation of the Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest regarding ending the war, ExpresOnline writes.

The meeting was canceled because the Kremlin does not want to make concessions, demanding Ukraine’s capitulation.

Military pressure on Ukraine to force a surrender

Recently, Russia also announced the successful test of the Burevestnik missile with a nuclear propulsion system. It reportedly flew 14,000 kilometers. However, there are no independent assessments of the weapon, and it has been described only by Russia.

Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, stated during the visit to the US that “the security of the whole world” depends on peaceful US–Russia relations and warned the Trump administration about “complete annihilation of humanity."

Russia also plans to deploy the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. It can reach Ukraine or any other European state within minutes. 

The war has reached orbit. Europe must prepare its own space capabilities to defend itself, as Russia is developing laser weapons that could be deployed from space, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, according to the European Commission. 

“The defense of space – and using space for defense is only becoming more urgent, because we are already under attack - also in Space," Kubilius stressed.

“Putin will be ready to test NATO’s Article 5”

Kubilius emphasized that space is now a central element of Europe’s defense readiness.

"We need to be ready before 2030. Because Putin will be ready to test NATO Article 5. And without space, there will be no defence readiness,” he claimed.

The Commissioner said that satellites play a decisive role on the battlefield: in Ukraine, they help coordinate defense, communications, and drones, while Russian satellites guide bombs and missiles.

Russian lasers, spy satellites, and the European Space Shield

“Russia is developing powerful laser weapons that can permanently blind satellites. German satellites are being shadowed by Russian spy satellites, that could damage or destroy them,” Kubilius warned.

He explained that the EU’s new defense readiness roadmap envisions the creation of a European Space Defense Shield, to be launched next summer.

The plan also includes the development of in-orbit servicing, refueling, and repair operations for satellites, as well as the GOVSATCOM program — secure, military-grade satellite communications, which will be operational by the end of the year.

Kubilius said that in modern warfare, the European Union needs three things:

• secure intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance
• secure positioning, navigation, and timing
• secure communication and connectivity

At the same time, the IRIS² satellite is being deployed to provide global, secure connectivity for Europe.

Moscow does not plan to slow its aggression against Ukraine. On the contrary, it is taking steps to accelerate mobilization. According to a new law, Russia will no longer have breaks between conscription campaigns, UNIAN reports. 

Under the new legislation, the selection process and medical examinations for future soldiers will now run year-round. 

Mobilization without interruptions

According to the document, military enlistment offices now have the right to conduct medical examinations, psychological testing, and draft board meetings continuously, from 1 January to 31 December.

At the same time, conscripts will be sent to their service locations twice a year: in spring (1 April to 15 July) and fall (1 October to 31 December).

The changes may indicate preparation for a larger-scale mobilization, as continuous work of the enlistment offices simplifies tracking citizens and allows the army to be replenished more quickly.

Continuous conscription allows the Kremlin to control the flow of new soldiers and strengthen its military presence on the front. For Ukraine, this is a signal that Russian aggression may last longer, and offensive operations could become more extensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to justify the slow pace of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine by claiming that the safety of Russian forces and civilians is a top priority, the Institute for the Study of War reports. 

Putin’s rhetoric frames Russia’s slow advances as a moral choice, but evidence from Ukrainian territory points to a strategy defined by brutality rather than restraint.

In recent statements, Putin said Russian troops will not be working toward fixed deadlines, emphasizing that they should allow Ukrainian forces to surrender safely and treat defeated enemies “with mercy.”

However, the ISW said these claims are contradicted by extensive evidence of Russian atrocities in Ukraine. 

The ISW highlighted deliberate attacks on civilians, including first-person view drone strikes in Kherson Oblast since late 2023, and recent killings in Pokrovsk and Zvanivka, Bakhmutsky Raion. 

By spring 2025, Kherson residents reported up to 100 drone attacks daily, describing how Russian forces use FPV drones to hunt individuals in so-called “human safaris.” The UN Commission found that civilian casualties from explosive weapons rose by 40% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the previous year, with drone strikes representing a growing share.

These attacks intensified throughout 2024-2025 as drones transformed from surveillance units into lethal weapons systems pursuing human targets, with Russian forces also deliberately striking ambulances and emergency responders.

The institute also cited evidence of repeated executions of surrendering Ukrainian prisoners of war and concluded that Russian battlefield commanders are complicit in, and in some cases explicitly order, extreme abuses, including summary executions.

Despite extensive documentation of war crimes, accountability remains virtually nonexistent. Only two Russians have been convicted for 273 Ukrainian POW executions, with half occurring in 2025 as systematic killings escalate. 

Russian military units implicated in war crimes have received official honors from Putin, while UN monitoring found that 95% of released Ukrainian POWs experienced systematic torture, including beatings, suffocation, mock executions, electric shocks, and sexual abuse in Russian detention.

On 27 October, US President Donald Trump dismissed Russia’s recent test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, stating that Russian President Putin should be focused on ending the war in Ukraine. Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One during a trip to Asia, according to news reports.

The President's direct public criticism links Russia's strategic weapons development to the all-out war, expressing his impatience with Putin's actions as the 3.5-year war remains deadlocked.

What Trump said

Speaking to reporters, Trump downplayed the test by highlighting US capabilities, CNN reported.

"They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their [Russian] shore," Trump said. "So I mean, it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles, and they’re not playing games with us, we’re not playing games with them either,"

He also added, "We test missiles all the time."

Trump then pivoted directly to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

"And I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either, by the way." "He ought to get the war ended, a war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year, that’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles," the President stated.

Context of the Burevestnik test

Trump's remarks followed a Kremlin announcement on 26 October that Russia had successfully completed "decisive tests" of its 9M730 Burevestnik missile. According to a report from RFE/RL, President Putin was briefed by General Valery Gerasimov that the missile flew 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) for 15 hours.

Key facts on the missile:

• NATO Name: SSC-X-9 Skyfall
• Propulsion: A miniature nuclear reactor, which in theory gives it a nearly "unlimited range."
• Capability: It is a low-flying, nuclear-armed cruise missile designed to use an unpredictable flight path to evade all existing air defense systems.

Strategic implications

First unveiled by Putin in 2018, the Burevestnik is one of several ostensibly "invincible" next-generation weapons. The program has been plagued by past failures, leading some experts to dub it a "flying Chernobyl," as noted by Novaya Gazeta Europe, due to the high risk of a nuclear-powered engine failing and dispersing radiation.

The test is widely seen as a signal from Moscow of its nuclear resolve as the war in Ukraine continues. By dismissing the test, Trump publicly suggested Putin's focus on strategic weapons was an inappropriate distraction from the ongoing conventional war in Ukraine—a war that he stated "ought to get... ended."

Related:

• Russian envoy in US says Trump is briefed on 14,000 km-range Burevestnik nuclear missile tests
• Trade or nuclear war: Kremlin envoy Dmitriev’s visit to US shows Russia remains committed to Ukraine’s capitulation
• Russia directs nuclear weapons toward US and UK in Arctic

Russian President Vladimir Putin has moved from a strategy of conquering Ukraine to a strategy of its destruction. This year he has lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in exchange for less than 1% of Ukraine’s territory, The Economist reports. 

Russia is conducting thousands of air strikes on the power grid, central heating, and gas infrastructure as winter approaches.

The goal is to render parts of the country’s east uninhabitable, crash the industry, and provoke mass emigration and panic.

Russia is inventing new weapons to destroy Ukraine

The Kremlin is now operating even more clinically and cynically than before. Russian capabilities and tactics are evolving faster than Ukraine can improve its air defenses — both missile interceptions and electronic warfare measures around sensitive sites. It appears this winter will be a test of endurance like no other.

The Kremlin is concentrating on specific regions, striking in waves and using new variants of cheap Shahed drones.

The drones are also attacking differently, approaching from near‑vertical trajectories and flying above the effective range of machine guns, almost like missiles.

Over the past three weeks, Russia has hit several thermal power plants and possibly shut down half of Ukraine’s gas production, a key part of balancing capacity.

Beyond the cost of damaged infrastructure, recent attacks unexpectedly forced Ukraine to spend a staggering $1.9 billion on imported gas.

Cutting the country apart with an energy blitzkrieg

Outside the capital, Russia has focused on the border regions of Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv. The apparent aim is to slice Ukraine in two: isolate the industrial east, where consumption has always been higher, from the energy production in the west, and to weaken transmission lines so that eventual west‑to‑east power flows are paralyzed.

“They want to turn the power off on the eastern bank first, not the whole country,” a government source says.

The report says that Putin, smelling blood, is unlikely to stop. In previous years, his attacks only strengthened Ukrainian resolve. This time, they may be more effective.

Russia's nuclear threats continue. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on tests of the unlimited-range nuclear-powered cruise missile "Burevestnik" conducted on 21 October, UNIAN reports. 

Putin states that Burevestnik can fly 14,000 kilometers

Putin stated that Russia’s nuclear forces “are at the highest level in the world” and boasted about tests of the “unique” nuclear-powered missile Burevestnik. He made the statements during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and the commanders of military formations.

According to him, the missile traveled 14,000 kilometers and remained in the air for about 15 hours. He also claimed that Burevestnik demonstrated the ability to evade missile defense systems.

“Technical characteristics of the missile allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against heavily protected targets at any distance,” Gerasimov said.

Commenting on the tests, Putin added that this is a “unique weapon that no one else in the world possesses.”

He also stated that the missile tests are complete and the key objectives of the tests have been achieved.

“We need to determine possible methods of deployment and start preparing the infrastructure to integrate this weapon into our armed forces,” said the Russian president.

Dmitriev in the US: Details on Burevestnik tests was conveyed to the US administration 

Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, stated during the visit to the US that “the security of the whole world” depends on peaceful US–Russia relations and warned the Trump administration about “complete annihilation of humanity."

He also mentioned the nuclear drills held on 21-22 October, RBC reports. During the drills, Russia launched a Yars ballistic missile toward the US. This missile can also carry a nuclear warhead. 

Ukraine is prepared to continue fighting Russia for another two to three years, but fears the war could last decades, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned in his interview for The Times.

He said he has "no doubt that Ukraine will survive as an independent state." However, Kyiv is concerned about how long the country can sustain the war, both in terms of human losses and economic strain.

"Now the main question is how many victims we will see. President Zelensky told me [on Thursday] that he hopes that the war will not last ten years, but that Ukraine is ready to fight for another two, three years," Tusk stated.

Ukraine’s right to strike Russia-linked targets across Europe

Tusk also emphasized that Ukraine has the right to target Russian-linked objectives anywhere in Europe. He noted that the full-scale war is crippling Russia’s economy, which faces “dramatic” challenges amid new US sanctions on Russian oil companies.

Following the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, European leaders expressed hope that a decision on giving Ukraine access to frozen Russian assets could be reached by Christmas.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for urgent action: “We have to go after Russia's money." According to the official, now that sanctions are working and it’s time to increase economic pressure to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations.

Russia is willing to fight, the West still unprepared

Tusk highlighted that internal instability makes Putin even more aggressive, while the Trump administration’s tough stance on Moscow has yet to provide a clear picture.

He said that "the Russians are in really deep trouble" economically. 

“Does it mean we can say we are winning? Not at all. They have one big advantage against the West, and Europe especially: they are ready to fight … in wartime, this is absolutely the crucial question,” he emphasized.

Putin’s threat to NATO and European capitals is real 

Tusk warned that a Kremlin attack on a NATO country would also put the UK at risk. He expressed shock at the British public’s apparent indifference to national security, referencing a reported arson attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s home, likely orchestrated by Russian intelligence.

He added that Russia’s deployment of new “Oreshnik” hypersonic missiles in Belarus or Kaliningrad would allow Moscow to strike any European capital, including London, with a range of up to 3,200 km.

“We are talking about the end of the era of illusions in Europe — too late, I’m afraid. Too late to be well prepared for all the threats, but not too late to survive,” Tusk added.

US President Donald Trump said on 25 October that Russia's war on Ukraine remains deadlocked due to “a lot of hatred" between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders and a lack of progress in talks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop in Qatar en route to Malaysia, Trump said he would not agree to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin again unless a concrete peace agreement was likely.

Trump: “I’m not going to be wasting my time”

Trump made it clear that future engagement with Putin would only happen if a settlement to end the war was realistically achievable.

“You have to know that we’re going to make a deal. I’m not going to be wasting my time,” Trump told reporters, according to RFE/RL.

He added that although he had “always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin,” the recent contacts have been "very disappointing."

“Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said.

According to Forbes, Trump said earlier he had canceled the previously planned meeting with Putin in Budapest because “it just didn’t feel right.” He added, “It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get.”

Trump noted that he expected the Ukraine war to be resolved faster than the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East,” he said, according to The Hill.

Explore further

Reuters: Trump could unleash new sanctions on Russia’s economy, but waits to see if Europe dares move first

He then contrasted the lack of progress in Ukraine with his success mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan, claiming his role in the conflict resolution between the two Caucasus countries.

“We have Azerbaijan, Armenia — that was very tough. In fact, Putin told me on the phone he said, ‘Boy, that was amazing’ because everybody tried to get that done and they couldn’t. I got it done,” Trump said.

Despite his earlier optimism, Trump said that entrenched hostility is preventing progress in Ukraine.

“There’s a lot of hatred between the two,” he said, referring to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I could say almost any one of the deals that I’ve already done I thought would have been more difficult than Russia and Ukraine, but it didn’t work out that way.”

He also suggested that international pressure on Russia should increase.

“You probably saw today, China is cutting back substantially on the purchase of Russian oil and India is cutting back completely. And we’ve done sanctions,” Trump said, referring to new American sanctions against Russia's top oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

Explore further

Trump finally acts after months of hesitation — Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil now sanctioned

He added that he would urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep limiting Russian oil imports when they meet later during his trip to South Korea.

Citing its sources, Reuters reports that US President Donald Trump’s administration has prepared a new package of sanctions that could target Russia’s banking and oil sectors if Moscow continues its war against Ukraine. Washington has also urged European partners to take the lead in tightening economic pressure, even as it weighs options to use frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv.

Trump weighs next move on Russia sanctions

According to Reuters, US officials have developed additional sanctions that could strike key areas of Russia’s economy, including the banking sector and the infrastructure used to export oil. The measures are ready to deploy if Russia's President Vladimir Putin refuses to advance peace efforts in Ukraine. Officials told Reuters that the United States has also discussed with European allies the use of frozen Russian assets to buy American weapons for Ukraine, while internal talks in Washington have begun on how to leverage assets held domestically.

Europe urged to take the next step

Reuters cites a senior US official saying he wants European nations to make “the next big Russia move,” which could include fresh tariffs or financial restrictions. Another source familiar with internal discussions told Reuters that Trump plans to wait several weeks to gauge Moscow’s reaction before deciding on further measures.

The White House has positioned Trump as a global peacemaker, but he has acknowledged that ending Russia’s invasion has proven far more difficult than expected. His August meeting with Putin in Alaska made no progress, and on 25 October, Trump told reporters in Doha that he would not meet the Russian leader again unless a peace deal seemed achievable.

“I’m not going to be wasting my time,” he said.

Ukraine’s proposals and Senate push

Ukrainian officials recently presented new sanction ideas to Washington, Reuters reports, including a plan to cut all Russian banks off from the US dollar system. It remains unclear whether those proposals will be adopted. Meanwhile, some senators are pushing to advance a long-stalled bipartisan sanctions bill, and Reuters says Trump is open to endorsing it—though not this month.

Russia’s claims of victory in Ukraine are pure fiction, argues retired US General Jack Keane in his 24 October 2025 New York Post opinion piece. Despite nearly four years of all-out war, Russia is bleeding manpower, facing a collapsing economy, and relying on lies to mask its military failure. 

Keane, chair of the Institute for the Study of War, says Kremlin propaganda conceals the reality that Russia is losing militarily and internally.

Russia’s war of attrition hides catastrophic losses

According to Keane, Vladimir Putin insists that victory in Ukraine is inevitable and refuses any peace deal that does not hand him full control of the Donbas. Yet after years of fighting, Russia’s forces remain stuck in place. They have failed to take any major Ukrainian city since 2022 and now fight for small towns and empty fields at what Keane calls “extravagant losses.”

Ukraine’s resistance, aided by effective drone warfare, has forced Russian troops to abandon tanks and mechanized formations. Instead, they attack in small squads of three to five soldiers, suffering massive casualties to move only meters forward. Keane cites data showing that in 2025, Russian forces lost an average of 70 to 75 soldiers for every square kilometer captured — a rate he calls “horrifying.”

Putin leans on foreign allies as Russia’s losses mount and recruitment system unravels

Keane writes that without China, North Korea, and Iran, Russia’s war effort would collapse. He highlights that 10,000 North Korean troops helped Moscow retake Kursk — a move he calls embarrassing.

Even as Russia loses 35,000 troops per month, the Kremlin is cutting enlistment bonuses. Keane suggests forced mobilization may follow, risking backlash at home.

As Russia’s economy sinks, Kremlin bets big on propaganda

Keane reports Russia’s sovereign wealth fund dropped from $113 billion in 2022 to $50.26 billion by October 2025. The country faces 16.5% interest rates and a 13–20% gasoline shortage due to Ukrainian refinery strikes. Trump’s sanctions have also hurt oil revenues.

Despite this, the Kremlin raised propaganda spending by 54% in its 2026 budget, flooding media with false victories to hide battlefield losses and economic pain.

Russia is preparing a humanitarian disaster in Ukraine this winter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned. His statements came during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London ahead of a joint conference with leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, UNIAN reports. 

Starmer noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin shows no willingness to participate in peace efforts and continues attacks that harm civilians, including children, as per the Independent. 

“I agree with you that Putin does not show any desire to end the war, and once again has taken steps that will lead us to a humanitarian disaster.

This is what he intends to organize this winter, targeting energy, gas, and water supply,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Winter under attack

Zelenskyy thanked the UK for its support and confirmed that Ukraine is not alone. The Coalition of the Willing will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, enhanced air defense, and energy assistance.

Europe and NATO strengthen Ukraine’s defense

Earlier, Zelenskyy reported that some European countries possess long-range weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Ukraine is already negotiating their delivery. The UK has previously provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles.

The United States and the European Union have imposed coordinated sanctions on Russia's energy sector on 22-23 October 2025, targeting the Kremlin's energy revenues in a renewed push to halt its war in Ukraine, drawing defiant claims of immunity from Moscow and skeptical retorts from Washington.

This coordinated action marks the West's most significant attempt to cripple Russia's war economy by choking its primary oil and gas revenues, directly testing the limits of Moscow's economic resilience amid contrasting signals from Presidents Putin and Trump about the sanctions' impact.

Yesterday's friends turned adversaries?

The coordinated sanctions drew sharply contrasting public reactions from Moscow and Washington. While Russian President Putin projected confidence from Moscow on 23 October, acknowledging the new measures but insisting they wouldn't cripple the Russian economy, US President Donald Trump adopted a more skeptical, wait-and-see stance from the White House.

"The measures are serious, but... won't significantly hit the economy," Putin stated, calling the US move an "unfriendly act," according to The Moscow Times.

Questioned about Putin's assessment later the same day at the White House event, President Trump responded, "...I'm glad he feels that way... That's good." He then added, "I'll let you know about it in six months from now. Okay. Let's see. Let's see how it all works out."

How the US is targeting Russian oil

The first move came on 22 October 2025, when the US Treasury Department named Russia's two largest oil companies, state-owned Rosneft and privately-held Lukoil, as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs). This designation effectively freezes any assets the companies hold within US jurisdiction and prohibits US citizens and entities from engaging in any transactions with them.

The restrictions, analysts said, could further weaken Russia’s already stressed economy and “hinder its capacity to continue bankrolling the war.” The designation not only blocks all US persons from dealings with the firms but also exposes non-US entities to powerful secondary sanctions. Foreign banks, traders, or companies risk penalties, including potential loss of access to the US financial system, if they facilitate significant transactions with Rosneft or Lukoil. This pressure is aimed squarely at Russia's key customers in China and India.

How the EU's 19th package aligns

Less than 24 hours later, the European Union adopted its 19th sanctions package on 23 October, which was explicitly designed to complement the US action. This package closes major loopholes Russia has used to fund its war effort.

Key measures from the combined US and EU actions include:

• Phased-in LNG Ban: The EU will ban all imports of Russian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), a key revenue source previously left untouched.
• Shadow Fleet Crackdown: The EU blacklisted another 117 vessels (bringing the total to 557) used in Russia's "shadow fleet," banning them from EU ports and services.
• Financial Loopholes: For the first time, the EU is targeting cryptocurrency, specifically sanctioning the rouble-backed stablecoin A7A5 and its developer.
• Third-Country Entities: Both the US and EU are targeting entities that help Russia, including banks in Central Asia and refineries in China.

Potential impact of sanctions on Russia's energy sector

Western officials framed the coordinated package as a decisive blow. The strategic goal is to starve the Kremlin of the energy profits that have allowed it to sustain its war effort despite previous restrictions.

"Given President Putin's refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia's two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin's war machine," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement.

European leaders echoed this sentiment. "...we are deploying a very wide range of additional measures to weaken Russia's faltering economy even further. A ban on LNG will hit where it hurts most..." said Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, a vocal critic of Moscow, was more blunt, calling the US penalties "a game changer... a very strong blow to the Russian economy."

The full impact of these new sanctions on Russia's energy sector remains to be seen, but the coordinated effort marks a significant escalation.

Related:

• China's state oil firms halt Russian oil purchases following US sanctions
• EU finally approves 19th Russian sanctions package, banning Russian LNG and more shadow fleet vessels

While Ukraine fights Russia’s invasion with constrained Western support, Hungary publicly plots to circumvent US sanctions against the oil giants funding Moscow’s war machine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Friday his government is “working on how to circumvent” Trump’s Wednesday sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil—creating the spectacle of America’s closest EU ally openly defying its pressure campaign just hours after Trump called them “tremendous sanctions.”

The contradiction reveals what drives Europe’s energy relationship with Moscow: not necessity, but political will. Hungary imports 90% of its gas and 65% of its oil from Russia despite having viable alternatives.

Trump’s ally in the crosshairs

The US Treasury designated Rosneft and Lukoil on 22 October, targeting companies that export 3.1 million barrels daily—70% of Russia’s overseas crude sales. This threatens immediate disruption for Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian oil and gas company MOL’s refineries in both countries process 14.2 million tonnes of Russian crude annually via the Druzhba pipeline.

Trump described the move as pressure on Putin. “I just felt it was time. We’ve waited a long time,” he said on Wednesday.

Explore further

Trump sanctioned Russia over “frustration with Vladimir Putin” – White House

However, within 24 hours, Orbán announced his circumvention plan in a state radio interview, providing no details about the scheme.

The workaround playbook

Hungary has done this before. When Ukraine sanctioned Lukoil in 2024, MOL struck deals to “take over ownership of the affected crude oil volumes at the Belarus-Ukraine border,” as MOL said.

Whether this works against US sanctions remains unclear. American measures typically focus on the ultimate source rather than border transfers, but enforcement depends on Trump’s political will to pressure his ally.

Alternatives Hungary refuses

Croatia’s Adria pipeline has been connected to Hungarian infrastructure since 2015 and has a capacity of 14.3 million tonnes annually—more than Hungary’s refineries need. MOL reported in October 2024 that it can process 30-40% non-Russian crude and plans to reach 100% capability by the end of 2026. The company operates a 9.57% stake in Azerbaijan’s ACG oil field and has tested over ten alternative crude grades.

A May 2025 study found Hungary and Slovakia “have exploited” their EU exemption from the Russian oil embargo, maintaining imports above pre-invasion levels “in violation of the intent of EU legislation.” The price difference—Russian oil trades at steep discounts—explains the preference.

The broader pattern

Orbán has repeatedly used veto threats to extract concessions from the EU, blocking sanctions packages worth billions. Trump had previously conditioned US sanctions on NATO allies stopping Russian oil purchases.

China’s state oil giants have suspended Russian crude purchases following the sanctions, and Indian refiners are cutting imports. But in Budapest, Trump’s closest European ally is already plotting workarounds to keep Russian oil flowing, turning “tremendous sanctions” into a test of whether friendship trumps policy.

North Korean troops are coordinating reconnaissance and supporting Russian strikes against Ukraine, according to the UK Defence Ministry.

North Korea deployed approximately 11,000 troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast starting from October 2024, with forces entering combat operations in November.

A year later, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that the Russian leadership continues to deploy North Korean units in active combat due to critical personnel losses and the failed offensive operation in Sumy Oblast.

War as a testing ground for North Korean weapons

The British Intelligence has documented the first known instance of direct involvement of North Korean forces in operations on Ukrainian territory in October 2025.

Their drone operators were spotted assisting Russian forces in using multiple launch rocket systems to strike Ukrainian positions in Sumy Oblast.

Although North Korean troops likely conducted tactical strikes and reconnaissance operations earlier against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, their main role there was infantry, carrying out offensive combat operations against Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

"D​PRK is likely seeking to exploit the afforded by the conflict to improve its warfighting capability, including UAS proficiency," the intelligence report said.

High-level command approval

The ministry added that any deployment of North Korean troops on Ukraine’s internationally recognized, sovereign territory must be approved by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The White House explained Thursday why US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s oil sector this week.

The new sanctions target two of Moscow’s largest energy companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, freezing their US-based assets and barring American companies from doing business with them.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “has always maintained that he would implement sanctions on Russia when he felt it was appropriate and necessary, and yesterday was that day.”

“I think the President has also long expressed his frustration with Vladimir Putin and, frankly, with both sides of this war. He has always said that in order to negotiate a good peace deal, both sides need to be interested in a good peace deal. And he feels as though, unfortunately, from the Russian side as of late, he has not seen enough interest or enough action in terms of moving the ball forward towards peace,” Leavitt said.

The move marks the first major sanctions on Russia since Trump returned to office, following concerns that Moscow has not demonstrated sufficient willingness to engage in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump announced on 23 October 2025 that he has canceled a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, citing frustration that previous high-level talks "don't go anywhere."

The abrupt cancellation, which coincided with the White House unveiling new sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, signals a significant stall in direct diplomacy. It marks a strategic pivot from personal engagement—which has previously been strained—to escalating economic pressure as the administration's primary tool for resolving the war in Ukraine.

Budapest summit abruptly canceled

During a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte late on 23 October at the White House, Trump confirmed the cancellation of his upcoming summit with Putin. The move came on the same day the administration announced it was elevating sanctions against Russia.

"We canceled the meeting with President Putin. It just… it didn't feel right to me. [I] didn't feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get, so I canceled it, but we'll do it in the future," President Trump said.

From “good conversations” to sanctions

The President elaborated on his frustration with the diplomatic process, suggesting that previous discussions with the Russian leader have not yielded results.

"Well, I think that in terms of honesty, the only thing I can say is every time I speak with Vladimir [Putin], I have good conversations and then uh they don't go anywhere. They just don't go anywhere," Trump stated.

This shift away from direct talks, for now, coincides with a new push for economic pressure. When asked about the timing of new sanctions against two major Russian oil companies, the president was direct.

"I just felt it was time. We waited a long time," he said.

Despite the canceled meeting and new sanctions, the President maintained his belief that both sides are ready for an end to the conflict.

"I think they want peace. I think they both want peace at this point. It's been, you know, it's almost four years," Trump said.

“We think it's ridiculous”

Trump justified the new pressure by pointing to the staggering human cost of the war, which he called "ridiculous."

"Last week, they had almost 8,000 soldiers killed. Many Russians were killed last week. Many Ukrainians were killed last week. We think it's ridiculous and would like to have it end," he said.

He later expanded on this theme, comparing the conflict to a historic tragedy and stressing the need for a deal.

"But, I would say that it's time, it's time to make a deal. A lot of people are dying. You know, they're not Americans, but they're people. They're souls, and they're dying by the thousands. Worst since World War II, and we really should stop it."

Russia casts the shadow of a nuclear war on the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin began nuclear exercises on 22 October, which included launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, Newsweek reports.

Russia’s nuclear triad operates at full power

According to a statement published by the Russian state news agency RIA on Telegram, all Russian nuclear triads—land-based, sea-based, and air-based—participated in the exercises.

During the drills, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) “Yars” was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, while strategic Tu-95MS bombers conducted strikes with air-launched cruise missiles.

A strategic submarine cruiser also launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea.

“The exercises tested the level of preparedness of the military command and the practical skills of operational personnel in organizing the management of subordinate forces,” the Kremlin statement said.

Nuclear tension rises as peace talks on Ukraine hang in the balance 

According to AP News, the meeting in Budapest was postponed following a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Rubio said the meeting “is unlikely to yield positive results in peace negotiations,” as Russia has not demonstrated readiness to make concessions or even discuss compromise conditions.

Earlier, Trump announced plans to meet with Putin in Budapest to talk over conditions for ending the war after pressure regarding potential Tomahawk supplies to Ukraine. However, these announced intentions were insufficient for Moscow to overlook the “root causes of the war,” which is simply the existence of Ukraine as an independent state, which Lavrov reminded them of after the call.

Moscow pushes the security to the edge

That these exercises were clearly aimed at influencing Trump is evidenced by statements from the Russian Foreign Ministry, claiming that “the hostile policies of NATO countries could lead to a head-on collision of nuclear states.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Moscow must ensure the resilience of Washington’s rejection of the extremely hostile anti-Russian course of the previous US administration, TASS reported. 

“We… must make sure… of Washington’s readiness to work on eliminating the root causes of the current Russia–West crisis,” he said.

Ryabkov also said that “calls for nuclear disarmament without considering the current military-political situation are completely unrealistic.”

“In the event that the US rejects the Russian initiative on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the nuclear threat will increase, but Russia will undoubtedly ensure its own security,” Ryabkov added.

Putin made statements regarding the new nuclear treaty in September and October 2025. Specifically, on 22 September 2025, at a meeting of the Russian Security Council, he declared Russia’s readiness to continue adhering to the treaty's main quantitative limits for one more year after its official expiration on 5 February 2026.

He added that this will be possible if the US “acts in a similar manner and does not take steps that undermine or violate the existing balance of deterrence potential.”

A planned high-stakes meeting in Budapest between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been abruptly canceled, with the Trump administration declaring it would not "waste time" on unproductive negotiations. US officials cited Russia's refusal to abandon its maximalist war aims in Ukraine as the primary reason for the collapse.

Despite the summit’s cancellation, Russia may have achieved its tactical aims. In the run-up to the event, Trump dashed the hopes of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on the delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns raised by Putin that the delivery would “harm” the relationship between the USA and Russia.

The summit's collapse reveals a hardening of positions from both sides. It signals that a diplomatic end to the war remains a remote possibility as long as Moscow believes it holds a military advantage and sees no immediate, pressing threat that would force it to the negotiating table.

What led to the cancellation

The proposed talks were viewed by some as a narrow path toward de-escalating the conflict. However, preliminary discussions showed that Moscow’s fundamental goal of conquering Ukraine remains unchanged, as first reported by the New York Post.

According to reports, a key sticking point was Russia’s insistence that any ceasefire must be implemented along the current front lines—a condition viewed by both Washington and Kyiv as a de facto acceptance of Russia’s territorial gains.

The Tomahawk factor in the talks’ collapse

From the Kremlin's perspective, the incentive to negotiate appears to have evaporated. Russian officials feel less pressure to engage in talks now that the immediate threat of the United States supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine has subsided, according to the Associated Press.

Trump’s decision to halt the Tomahawks came after a two-and-a-half-hour phone call on 16 October. According to the Kremlin, Putin warned that Tomahawks “would not change the situation on the battlefield but would cause significant harm to relations between our countries.” Within days, Trump's tone shifted from threatening to send “a couple thousand Tomahawks” to saying “we need Tomahawks for the United States.”

This development removed a significant piece of leverage, pushing Moscow toward negotiations.

As the Washington Post noted, without this imminent military threat, Russia has little reason to alter its current strategy.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed that the Kremlin has been waging a “reflexive control campaign” aimed at deterring the United States from authorizing Tomahawk missile sales to Ukraine. The think tank noted that Russia has 'routinely successfully delayed the provision of Western weapons to Ukraine' through similar information operations targeting previous deliveries of ATACMS, HIMARS, F-16 fighter jets, and Abrams tanks.

ISW mapped at least 1,945 Russian military objects within range of Tomahawk missiles, explaining why the Kremlin fought so hard against their delivery.

Key factors in the summit's collapse:

• Russian stance: Refusal to abandon the goal of conquering more Ukrainian territory.
• US position: Russia’s unwillingness to accept a ceasefire on the current front lines.
• Military leverage: Reduced threat of US Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine.

Official and expert reactions

The collapse of the summit has drawn swift reactions, underscoring the vast gulf between the warring sides' positions.

"Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy—and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us—for Ukraine—became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically. This signals that this very issue—the issue of our deep strike capabilities—may hold the indispensable key to peace," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a defiant message on his official Telegram channel.

This sentiment was echoed by analysts who view Russia's diplomatic engagement as tactical.

"That there will likely be no Trump-Putin meeting in the near future does not change the fact that Putin’s psychological operation to disrupt the Tomahawk deliveries to Ukraine has been, so far, a success. That disruption was the only thing that actually mattered," wrote Anton Shekhovtsov, an academic and expert on Russian malign influence, on his Facebook page.

Hungarian officials remain hopeful

Despite the cancellation, officials in Budapest have expressed hope that the summit may still take place. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary remains ready to host the talks, emphasizing the importance of dialogue. Similarly, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated his government's commitment to peace, suggesting the door for negotiation is not completely closed.