The key facts
- The Kremlin allows for the resumption of Russia–Ukraine–US talks in mid-November, with Abu Dhabi a possible venue; Putin's aide Ushakov called Witkoff's proposals of little value to Moscow
- Zelensky confirmed to Fox News Kyiv's readiness for a ceasefire along the current front line without recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied territories
- The EU emergency summit has been extended to two days (26–27 November) to discuss Ukraine's €70 billion request; Costa is preparing a budget compromise, with 'new own resources' and joint debt under discussion
Diplomacy around Ukraine: readiness 'in principle' and unchanged positions
After Vladimir Putin's meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, the Kremlin said Russia is 'in principle' ready to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US in mid-November; Abu Dhabi is named as a possible venue (according to Euronews colleague Sasha Vakulina). The outlet notes that Moscow has previously held talks without softening its maximalist demands. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the proposals Witkoff brought back after meetings with Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo contained little of use for Russia. Witkoff himself, after the release of a detained American, called Putin a 'humanitarian' — even though the Russian president is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the alleged unlawful deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children. A possible summit of Trump, Putin and Xi Jinping is also being considered, at which Ukraine's future could be discussed without Kyiv's participation; it is unclear whether it will take place and how it relates to the talks. On Fox News, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine could accept a ceasefire along the current front line without recognizing Russian sovereignty over the occupied territories. According to Euronews, the parties' fundamental positions have barely shifted so far.
Stubb's role and accusations against Trump
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia could welcome the participation of Finnish President Alexander Stubb in the talks if he does not simply 'repeat' Europe's position on Ukraine. Stubb, together with his Norwegian counterpart, played a leading role in the Oslo talks and is mentioned as a possible EU special envoy. The outlet notes that the Kremlin is, in effect, dictating the terms of Stubb's participation before the talks even begin. Meanwhile, former US Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges told Euronews that President Donald Trump is taking Russia's side and deliberately undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself. 'He never intended to support Ukraine and intended to side with Russia — all the signs were there,' Hodges said, adding that he does not 'trust' the US administration.
The EU budget and €70 billion for Ukraine
The fight over the next EU budget is increasingly intertwined with the search for additional support for Ukraine. The union's extraordinary summit, originally planned to advance budget negotiations, has been extended to two days — 26–27 November — to include the Ukrainian issue. The agenda change followed Zelensky's request for an additional €70 billion in military and financial aid for 2027. EU leaders agreed to address the problem of the large shortfall, but Brussels is calling on other allies — the UK, Canada, Norway, Australia and Japan — to increase contributions so that the burden does not fall mainly on the bloc. The European Commission must determine what share of the €70 billion the EU should cover; options for raising funds will be developed based on that calculation. According to Euronews, joint debt looks like the most likely route, despite high borrowing costs. Before the summit, European Council President António Costa will present a new budget compromise with an emphasis on 'new own resources' — EU-wide taxes. 'For the sake of Europe's stability, we must adopt the next long-term budget before the end of this year,' Costa urged. Leaders remain split between the 'frugals' and 'friends of cohesion' camps, diplomats disagree on whether to tie the budget and Ukraine funding into one package; next year's French presidential election looms over the debates. 'These are the most pressing issues for the rest of the year,' one diplomat said.
Other news: AfD, Milei, raids and a journalism prize
The leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany, Alice Weidel, presented a plan for radical EU reform in Strasbourg, stating: 'Our goal is to take responsibility for government after the next federal elections.' After winning the election in Saxony-Anhalt in September, the AfD leads national polls. Argentine President Javier Milei, arriving in Madrid, called Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a 'shameless dictator' and accused him of encouraging an 'invasion' of Ceuta, saying: 'Socialists would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven. Every immigrant is a vote.' Sánchez, campaigning ahead of the 29 November election, positions himself as the last barrier against the far right. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) carried out raids at the offices of the far-right group Patriots for Europe in Brussels and Strasbourg as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of millions of euros in EU funds, linked to the case of the former Identity and Democracy group (Le Pen's National Rally and Salvini's League). An investigation into human rights violations in Italian migrant centres in Albania received the European Parliament's Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize. Macron, apparently addressing his words to Trump, criticized 'unacceptable and even stupid comments' by world leaders about the unrest in France. In addition, EU governments may ask households and businesses to reduce energy consumption amid rising prices caused by the war in the Middle East — according to a document seen by Euronews.
