Latest news on the war in Ukraine. Putin to Trump’s envoys: foreign troops in Ukraine are a legitimate target. Zelensky: further restrictions on Starshield

“Europe’s security cannot be discussed without a European voice at the table. This European voice must be the result of teamwork between European nations, the EU and NATO. And the EU is playing its part.” This was stated by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, in his opening address at the summit of the European Political Community. This is one of the principles that must be upheld in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and, with it, restore security in Europe, he said. Another principle is “that Ukraine, like every sovereign nation seated at this table, must be free to choose its own partners, its own allies and its own future. The era of spheres of influence in Europe is long gone”, observes the President of the European Council, who maintains that the security of all European nations “is inseparable from the security of Ukraine” and from the achievement of a just and lasting peace. The third principle concerns discussions on the European security architecture, a subject on which “there is no need to reinvent the wheel”, Costa continues: “Europe had a functioning security architecture, until it was first gradually weakened and then ultimately destroyed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Any future discussion on this issue must take this fact into account and build on what we have collectively established since the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. Sovereign equality among European nations, refraining from the threat or use of force, the inviolability of borders, the territorial integrity of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes: these principles remain as relevant and indispensable today for a just and lasting peace as they were fifty years ago.”

“Today, Europe needs to have a clear and united vision” on the negotiations in Ukraine and “I believe that the substance determines the format” of who should sit at the negotiating table. French President Emmanuel Macron made these remarks on arriving at the European Community summit, adding: “Let’s be honest, it is we Europeans, Canada, Australia and Japan who are supporting the Ukrainians because American support is no longer there.” (

“Yesterday, our representatives met with the Russians and the Americans in Abu Dhabi. Today, the Americans are in Moscow and will be here in Dublin this evening. We will discuss with them the outcome of the negotiations over the last few days; it is excellent that the Europeans are now part of these discussions. Not yet directly, but the Europeans are already involved, and we must ensure that Europe becomes a constant presence in these negotiations. From what I have learnt from our delegation, these were serious talks, not without substance.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in his address at the PACE summit in Dublin.

Reports that the Starshield service has once again been slowed down are “deeply worrying” and, if confirmed, are “unacceptable”, said a spokesperson for the European Commission, adding that SpaceX must keep the service “online”.

The European Commission will present the 22nd package of sanctions against Russia and options for financial support for Ukraine “by the next European Council”. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin. The next European Council is due to take place in Brussels at the end of November.

DUBLIN – Officially, tomorrow’s European summit here in Dublin will be devoted to artificial intelligence. This is a crucial issue, but one that risks being overshadowed in the short term by the situation in Ukraine. Two letters sent by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be the subject of discussion amongst the heads of state and government. No formal decisions are expected, but the debate will serve to take stock of the situation, particularly with regard to the 2028–2034 budget.

In a letter sent to the President of the European Council António Costa, the Chancellor acknowledged Kyiv’s new financial requirements for 2027 (70 billion euros). He explained that all 27 Member States would have to contribute, and threatened to block the approval of the 2028–2034 budget should Member States fail to show solidarity. In 2025, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary secured an exemption from contributing to the interest payments on the €90 billion loan.

“I would just like to emphasise that no one, apart from the Europeans themselves, can negotiate on our behalf; our role is of fundamental importance.” This was stated by the Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, on his arrival at the European Political Community in Dublin. “As for Ukraine, the top priority at the moment is to support it, and Europeans must have a seat at the negotiating table,” he added. Orpo emphasised that “the situation regarding the negotiations is very interesting; I am keen to hear directly from President Zelensky on the state of affairs and to discuss, as Europeans, how to proceed”.

“Reports have been received from the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Yevheniy Khmara, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mykhailo Drapaty. Unfortunately, for several days now, our units have been experiencing serious malfunctions in the Starshield system on Ukrainian territory.” Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on Telegram, adding that across the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories, Starshield is not reaching its maximum permitted speed and that, for the Ukrainian army, “these are not random errors, but rather a speed limit imposed by the system”.

Overnight, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles, causing explosions. The authorities urged residents of the Ukrainian capital to take immediate shelter and remain there until the all-clear was given. This morning, again in Kyiv, a drone struck a nine-storey building. A 44-year-old woman was killed, whilst a fire broke out at the scene. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the army had struck a drone manufacturing plant in Kyiv and, in the area surrounding the Ukrainian capital, three other facilities producing missile fuel and drone components. It also stated that further attacks had targeted electrical substations in Zhytomyr and a bulk carrier heading for the port of Odessa on the Black Sea, carrying a cargo intended for the Ukrainian armed forces.

“Moscow has stepped up its hybrid attacks in Europe in an attempt to undermine our resolve, but the effect has been the opposite: we remain united in our defence of Ukraine and its independence. Sanctions are working and Moscow knows it: the country has lost more than 1,000 billion euros that it could have invested in the war.” This was stated by the EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Maria Luís Albuquerque, speaking in the plenary session in Brussels during the debate on further sanctions against Russia following the escalation of attacks in Ukraine. “Despite the diplomatic efforts made, Moscow is showing that it has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine, and is doing so by stepping up drone attacks with the aim of intimidating the population. Sanctions must be stepped up until there is a just and lasting peace, and the European Union will lead the way in continuing along this path,” emphasised Albuquerque, noting that “the effectiveness of the sanctions will be greater with coordinated pressure” from the 27 Member States.

A Russian attack has damaged energy infrastructure in the Shepetivka district, in the Khmelnytskyi oblast in western Ukraine, causing power cuts. “Following the Russian attack, energy infrastructure was damaged, causing emergency power cuts in the Shepetivka district,” said Serhii Tiurin, governor of the Khmelnytskyi oblast, in a message on Telegram.

Issues relating to the achievement of a peaceful solution in Ukraine will be discussed at a meeting with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner: this was stated by Yury Ushakov, the Kremlin’s presidential adviser, upon arriving at the Moscow hotel where the two envoys of US President Donald Trump – who arrived in the Russian capital this morning – are staying. “Today we will examine and discuss various issues relating to a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine,” Ushakov told the journalists present.

On the aid package for Ukraine, “Giorgetti was absolutely right to scrutinise in detail everything that was put before him for signature – not to mention that this was a measure on which Parliament voted last year. If another measure comes before the House this year, the League will reiterate its position, which is neither pro-Russian nor pro-Putin but pro-peace”, meaning that “we must stake everything on diplomacy”: so said Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on RTL. “If and when a new debate takes place in Parliament, we will reiterate that, as far as we are concerned, by 2027 we must focus on diplomacy rather than on weapons,” added Salvini. (

A Russian military officer has been killed in a car bomb explosion in the Pushkinsky district of St Petersburg, according to the country’s investigators. “The investigative authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the murder of a security forces officer,” reads a statement from the Russian Investigative Committee.

“After verifying that it is consistent with parliamentary policy documents and financially viable, the Minister for the Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, signed the interministerial decree on the 13th aid package for Ukraine this evening.” This was announced by the Ministry of the Economy.

US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have landed at Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, according to the TASS news agency. They are due to meet President Vladimir Putin today to take stock of the negotiations.