Putin: Russia and Ukraine can reach an agreement

A collection for the people of Ukraine as they prepare to face the winter. It is being organised by the Vatican’s Office of Papal Charities. According to the Vatican’s social media channels, in the square in front of the Governorate, “clothing, warm blankets, sleeping bags, tinned food and bed linen are being collected”.

Following the tensions of recent weeks between Kyiv and Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that “it’s nothing personal” between him and US President Donald Trump, whilst warning, however, that certain measures could only “strengthen” Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“My stance on Putin is very clear,” Zelensky told CNN. “I believe that if we were to lift the sanctions, we would make him stronger. There is nothing personal between me and President Trump; naturally, I am opposed to any lifting of the sanctions.”

A record 2,250 Russian soldiers died at the front in a single day yesterday, according to the General Staff of the Kyiv-based forces. The total number of Russian military personnel killed in the war since the start of the full-scale invasion now exceeds 1.57 million.

Due to the ongoing Russian shelling, a decision has been taken to forcibly evacuate families with children from all settlements in the communities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. This was stated by the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Vadim Filashkin, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. According to the governor, the security situation in the region is constantly deteriorating. The authorities state that remaining in the city with children poses an unjustified risk.

“The escalation of Russian attacks on maritime traffic in the Black Sea poses a threat to food security, both regionally and globally. I discussed this with Romania’s new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dan Neculaescu, also addressing the strengthening of NATO’s presence in the region and the urgent need to make the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub operational.” This was written in X by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kalla. “I also emphasised the vital role of the ‘Solidarity Lanes’ in getting Ukrainian wheat to world markets. I look forward to fruitful cooperation to support Ukraine and Moldova and to make Europe stronger.”

The Trump administration is doing a great deal to promote a peaceful solution in Ukraine, unlike Europe: this was stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “The US administration is doing a great deal to facilitate a peaceful solution in Ukraine. European capitals are doing nothing to promote a peaceful solution; on the contrary, they are working to provoke a further military escalation,” Peskov continued. Moscow has not noted any statement, either from Ukraine or from Europe, that suggests a willingness to move from escalation to dialogue, he concluded.

A Ukrainian national suspected of carrying out espionage on behalf of a Russian intelligence service was arrested today in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg by officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). This was announced by the German Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, which stated that the man, identified as Vadym Y., is accused of carrying out intelligence activities on behalf of a foreign power. The arrest was made on the basis of a warrant issued on 15 October by the Federal Court of Justice. According to investigators, the suspect had been in contact with a Russian secret service via an intermediary since at least July 2025 and was gathering information of military significance from Germany in the context of the war in Ukraine. This included data on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives, as well as on military personnel and installations at bases intended to defend NATO’s eastern flank. Some of the information was publicly available, whilst other details are believed to have been obtained through targeted contacts with individuals working in the European arms industry. The man is due to appear tomorrow before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice, who will decide on his remand in custody. The investigations were launched on the basis of information provided by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence service, and are being conducted by the BKA.

The Russians have attacked a market in Lozova, in the Kharkiv Oblast. According to preliminary reports, two people have been killed and at least 17 others have been injured. This was stated by Oleg Synegubov, head of the Kharkiv region, as reported by the Ukrainian media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not hand over any written proposal for a solution in Ukraine to the White House’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff; this was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in the wake of the talks in St Petersburg. Discussing publicly the agreements reached during the meeting between Putin and Witkoff could undermine the process, Peskov explained. As for a possible meeting between Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, “there are no plans for one at present”: “They can be arranged fairly quickly, should it be necessary or if either party so wishes,” he concluded, adding that Putin and Trump constantly reassure one another that they are ready to talk at any time.

“Discussions are ongoing” regarding a possible summit between Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. This was stated today by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in response to a question as to whether this had been among the topics discussed at yesterday’s meeting in St Petersburg between the US envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian president. “The issue was raised, but at the moment there is still no clear understanding of the matter. There is no full agreement, but discussions are ongoing,” said Ryabkov, as quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Last night, the Russian armed forces launched a “massive attack” using missiles and drones on Ukraine, targeting in particular businesses “involved in the production and storage of cruise missiles and drones, transport infrastructure in Kyiv, as well as port infrastructure in the Odessa region and ships used to support the Ukrainian armed forces”. This is according to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow. Among the targets struck in Kyiv, according to the Russian ministry, were an assembly plant belonging to the Antonov aerospace industry, which produces long- and medium-range drones, FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, and FP-7 and FP-9 tactical missiles. The South railway and road bridge was also struck. In the Odessa region, “infrastructure at the port of Kilia, used for unloading and storing military equipment supplied to Ukraine from abroad”, was targeted. In addition, a cargo ship was struck whilst at sea, “which was carrying goods intended to resupply the Ukrainian armed forces at the port of Chornomorsk”.

Russia is engaged in dialogue with the United States, bearing in mind that any decision on Ukraine must take account of the changed realities on the ground: this was stated by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov. “Naturally, it is imperative to take full account of the changed realities on the ground, our constitutional realities and what is happening on the battlefield. It is from this position that we are conducting our dialogue with the United States. We are not deviating from this approach,” Ryabkov continued. Moscow hopes that the United States will be able to understand Russia’s reasoning, the Deputy Foreign Minister concluded.

NATO will allow Ukraine to purchase weapons, ammunition and military equipment through its centralised procurement agency, potentially enabling Kyiv to source defence supplies more quickly and cost-effectively. The Financial Times reports this, explaining that Ukraine is launching a partnership with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), thereby bringing its defence industry closer to its Western allies and securing an additional supply channel, rather than having to rely solely on bilateral negotiations. “This agreement offers Ukraine the opportunity to benefit from a more structured framework to make use of the wide range of resources we provide: procurement expertise, support services and access to an established industrial base,” Jacqueline Borsboom, director of operations support at the NSPA, told the Financial Times. “There will be economies of scale; for example, Ukraine might say, ‘We need 30,000 uniforms; we want to commission you to go and buy them for us’,” explained Borsboom.

“Three waves of ballistic missiles have been launched at Kyiv by the ‘compassionate’ Russians since yesterday evening. A total of 21 missiles were used. Unfortunately, numerous locations across the city have been hit and damaged, including even a monastery”: this was reported in a social media post by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who ironically alluded to the phrase used by US envoy Steve Witkoff to describe Vladimir Putin. “Almost immediately after another round of talks, Russia launched a targeted attack. This means that its attitude towards everything that is happening has not really changed,” he added.

European leaders are reported to have asked the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, during last week’s summit in Brussels, whether the time had come to speak to Putin. “Costa replied no, that he would not speak to Putin at that time,” diplomatic sources told the media outlet Politico. “But Costa should start engaging with Putin if we are to play a role in the negotiations. By not speaking, we are playing into the hands of our opponents,” the same sources told the Brussels-based newspaper. Apart from the European leader, Politico reports, the only other European leader to put himself forward to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin was Finnish President Alexander Stubb. “Stubb is an interesting choice because of Finland’s knowledge of Russia and its traditional dialogue with the country,” a diplomat told Politico. “They know better than anyone else on our side what it takes to feel secure in such a situation,” the same source added. A second EU diplomat noted that Stubb was “the only person to have come forward so far” to demonstrate high-level political leadership and that he could act as a European envoy at a future peace summit.

US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility that Ukraine will also be discussed during the hypothetical trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and China. “I can’t tell you that, because it’s not just about that. We’re talking about denuclearisation. So, it’s not just about that,” said Trump, responding to a question from journalists at Joint Base Andrews regarding the potential inclusion of the issue of peace in Ukraine on the summit agenda. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov announced yesterday that China is already preparing for a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the APEC summit, to be held in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November.

Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, has praised the peace-making efforts of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Dmitriev commented on the statements made on X by Witkoff and Kushner, who described the negotiations with Russia as constructive, highlighting the progress made during the talks on Ukraine held in Oslo and St Petersburg.

“Thank you, peacemakers,” Dmitriev wrote on X. Earlier, talks between the Russian president and Witkoff had concluded in St Petersburg. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov and Dmitriev himself also took part in the discussions on the Russian side.

A civilian was injured following a Ukrainian drone attack in Lipetsk. This was stated by the governor of the Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov, as reported by TASS. “Several detached houses and blocks of flats in various neighbourhoods of Lipetsk were damaged by the drone attack. A man born in 2001 was injured and is currently in hospital. Debris from the drone also damaged a health centre building, which was closed at the time of the attack and had no one inside,” Artamonov wrote on the Max messaging app.

A Russian missile strike on Kyiv has left six people injured, according to the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko; a missile also damaged transport infrastructure. Overnight, the Ukrainian army issued a warning about ballistic missiles coming from eastern Russia.

‘If we’d imposed those sanctions, we could have written him off; we’d never have seen him again’ and ‘he would have been in prison for 25 years’. Donald Trump made these remarks whilst speaking to journalists, referring to the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, although the President had previously denied having made any concessions to Vladimir Putin in exchange for Hubbard’s freedom. The US president, who has faced widespread criticism for suspending sanctions against Moscow, went on to add: “We are currently negotiating with Russia regarding Ukraine. For the first time in a long while, we may be close to a deal, and when you’re close to a deal, you don’t use sanctions.”

“I can’t tell you that, because the issue isn’t limited to that. We’re also talking about denuclearisation, so it’s not just that,” said Donald Trump to the media regarding the possibility of a trilateral meeting between the US, China and Russia on Ukraine. “There are many steps to be taken, but I believe we are closer than ever to a possible solution. You see what I see. You’ve seen, for example, President Zelensky. I believe we are closer than ever to a possible resolution,” added the tycoon at Joint Base Andrews, on his return from South Carolina.

Over 600 drones were launched towards the city of Moscow during the night. Most were intercepted by Russian air defence forces in the outskirts. This was reported – as per TASS – by the capital’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin: “Between 8.30 pm on 21 October and 4 am on 22 October, 630 drones headed towards the Moscow region.” The attack left two people injured.