EU News

Melania Trump secures ceasefire in Russian-occupied city of Oleshky

The agreement, due to take effect on 29 October, is intended to allow humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations in a city where residents have endured years of Russian occupation, severe food shortages and dangerous attempts to escape.

23 October 2026

Russia

Ukraine hits Russian data centres in blow to Moscow's AI capabilities

Drones hit three Yandex facilities, a Sber centre and a VKontakte server farm across five Russian regions, causing persistent failures in payments, navigation and cloud services. Experts say restoring the infrastructure could take months or years.

23 October 2026

EU News

Starlink restrictions not lifted in Ukraine despite Trump's claims

Ukrainian forces continue to experience disruptions to critical battlefield communications despite Donald Trump's assertion that restrictions have been removed, raising fresh questions about Kyiv's dependence on an American-controlled satellite network.

23 October 2026

Europe Today

A Budapest reset, and a scramble to get Ukraine peace talks on track

Good morning. I’m Mared Gwyn. In this Friday edition: Ursula von der Leyen is set to become a headline act at Hungary’s 1956 revolution commemoration, and Europeans grapple with Trump’s “terrifying” Ukraine approach.

23 October 2026

Europe News

Russia strikes Kyiv with three cluster-warhead ballistic missiles

The latest Russian bombardment of Ukraine's capital came just hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, underscoring the stark contrast between Washington's renewed diplomatic efforts and Moscow's continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities.

22 October 2026

No Comment

Ukraine: At least 9 people were killed in Russian attacks over the past 24 hours

At least nine people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to Ukrainian authorities, as overnight missile and drone strikes sparked fires in Kyiv and the Kharkiv region.

22 October 2026

Tech News

Palantir vows NATO AI system has no ‘kill switch’ after Starlink row

The American software firm says it cannot shut off NATO AI systems amid European fears of dependence on US tech following disruptions to Ukraine’s Starshield access.

22 October 2026

Europe Today

'Everything' in Ukraine is now a target for Putin, says EPP MEP

EPP MEP Pekka Toveri believes Russia has “taken all the rules off" the table and is increasingly targeting residential areas, as well as cultural and government buildings. He warns that the attacks could leave large parts of Kyiv "uninhabitable" during the winter.

22 October 2026

Ukraine

Russian strikes kill 7 in Ukraine after US envoy meets Putin

Ukraine's air force posted a warning in the early hours of "more ballistic missiles towards Kyiv" and instructed residents to stay in shelters.

22 October 2026

Europe Today

A fraught push for peace, and a race to fund Ukraine

Good morning. It’s Mared Gwyn with your Thursday newsletter. Today: the fraught push to revive peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, cash for Kyiv becomes intertwined in talks on the next EU budget, and Argentina’s Milei reignites a war of words with Spain’s Sánchez.

22 October 2026

Europe Today

More cuts 'definitely necessary' says German ambassador to EU

More cuts are "definitely necessary", says German ambassador to the EU. Thomas Hans Ossowki speaks on EU budget discussions, ruling out new common borrowing and EU-level taxation, while reaffirming support for Ukraine.

21 October 2026

Europe Today

Diplomatic damage control in Oslo as Kyiv says US intel restored

Good morning. It’s Mared Gwyn, penning this newsletter in the early hours from Brussels. In this edition: The diplomatic push to revive Ukraine peace talks, and how Hungary has surprised diplomats by stalling Kyiv’s accession talks.

21 October 2026

Europe Today

France to deploy army before weekend protests as Italy tightens powers

France will put soldiers on the streets ahead of more weekend protests, after days of violence and vandalism. Italy is giving police new powers, Albania's protests enter a second week, and Greek students march today. In Oslo, Steve Witkoff meets Zelenskyy before heading to Moscow.

21 October 2026

No Comment

Russian drone attack kills two in Kyiv as residents survey damage

Two people were killed after a Russian drone attack sparked a fire in a residential building in Kyiv. Residents returned to damaged homes as debris and destroyed cars littered the area.

21 October 2026

USA

'Time to make a deal,' Trump tells Zelenskyy

Trump's comments came shortly after Zelenskyy met with a US delegation headed by special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo.

20 October 2026

Europe News

Zelenskyy calls for trilateral talks with Putin and Trump

Speaking after a meeting with special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy added that he was "thankful" that US early warning intelligence "works now."

20 October 2026

Europe Today

Pressure mounts on Macron as France reels from unrest

Hello from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn, holding the newsletter pen once again today. In this edition: what the unrest in France means for its embattled president, and the latest from Ukraine amid signs of intensified diplomacy.

20 October 2026

Europe Today

Blame continues in France, Russia kills two children in Kharkiv

Blame in France over protests continues as Sébastien Lecornu accuses the ultra-left of orchestrating the unrest. In Kharkiv, two children are among the victims of a Russian strike on a park as Putin reportedly floats a summit without Kyiv. And we interview with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.

20 October 2026

Europe News

US holding up delivery of air defence missiles, Zelenskyy says

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured over military aid and intelligence sharing, with Zelenskyy saying that Ukraine received no warning of Russian missile strikes that targeted energy facilities in the capital region.

20 October 2026

Europe News

Lavrov backs Iran after Trump says Russia doing 'little' for Tehran

Just hours after Trump publicly claimed Russia was doing “little” to help Iran, Moscow reaffirmed its full support for Tehran, with Foreign Minister Lavrov describing Iran's fight as a "just cause."

19 October 2026