Zelensky: Ready for a truce if under the NATO umbrella.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News that he was ready to reach a ceasefire agreement with Russia, even without the immediate return of occupied territories. However, he set one key condition: that Ukraine be protected by the NATO umbrella.
“If we want to end the hot phase of the war, we must ensure that the Ukrainian territory under our control is protected by NATO”, Zelensky said. He also stressed the urgency of implementing this protection in order to subsequently focus on a diplomatic reconquest of the territories occupied by Moscow.

The proposal represents a significant strategic shift, which could open up new negotiating scenarios, but also raise objections from Russia, which sees NATO expansion as a direct threat.

Russia and North Korea: An Ever Closer Military Alliance

Russia has confirmed it is strengthening its military cooperation with North Korea, raising alarm in the West and Seoul. In a surprise visit to Pyongyang, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met with his North Korean counterpart No Kwang Chol to discuss expanding bilateral relations.
Belousov called the strategic cooperation treaty signed between the two countries this year a milestone for Eurasian security, raising concerns about a possible North Korean troop buildup on Russian soil and the transfer of sensitive military technology.

Ukraine in the dark: Blackout and humanitarian crisis

Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have left over a million people without electricity in the west of the country. The consequences are dramatic: blocked transport, closed schools and shortages in the supply of drinking water.
“There are emergency cuts across the country due to enemy attacks”, said Serguii Kovalenko, head of the Yasno energy company.

The most affected regions include Lviv, Rivne, Volyn and Khmelnytsky. In the Lviv region alone, 523.000 households were left without power, while in the Rivne region, 280.000 people were left without electricity and water.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych also announced the suspension of public transport services and the temporary closure of schools. The situation is likely to worsen with the arrival of winter, increasing the vulnerability of the civilian population.

Putin and Military Escalation: New Threats to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that decision-making centers in Kiev could become targets of new Russian ballistic missiles. During a meeting in Astana with members of the CSTO (the military alliance of post-Soviet countries), Putin announced the start of serial production of the Oreshnik medium-range missile. “Our response to the Ukrainian attacks will be decisive and targeted. We do not rule out strategic targets in the heart of Kiev”, he has declared.
Putin also accused the Ukrainian government of illegitimacy, calling those who follow orders from Kiev criminals. The latest Russian strikes hit 117 targets in Ukraine, including critical and military infrastructure, using 100 missiles and 466 drones.

International Reactions: Biden and Macron Condemn Moscow

US President Joe Biden has called the Russian attacks “horrific and despicable,” stressing the urgency of continuing to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron also harshly criticized Moscow, calling it an “unacceptable logic of escalation.” He reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Kiev “intensely and for as long as necessary.”

Tajani: “We will not send any Italian soldier to fight”

“We will not send any Italian soldier to fight in Ukraine”: said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, responding to a question on the ongoing talks between France and the United Kingdom on sending troops.We defend international law – Tajani declares – and we are very firm in our aid to Kiev. I remember that the next reconstruction conference will be held in July in Italy, but we are not at war with Russia. This is why we have never given authorization to use Italian weapons on Russian soil”.

Ukrainian strikes against Russian targets

Ukraine has stepped up operations against Russian strategic targets. Recent attacks include the burning of an oil depot in the Rostov region and the destruction of a radar station of the Buk air defense system in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it intercepted 47 Ukrainian drones in a single night, marking an increase in incursions into Russian territory.

Nuclear Safety Challenges

Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and southern Ukraine nuclear power plants have cut power output as a precautionary measure following Russian attacks. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, has expressed concern about the nuclear safety risks posed by military operations.

Humanitarian exchanges and international support

Ukraine has recovered the bodies of 502 killed soldiers repatriated by Russian forces. Although Kiev has not confirmed a possible body swap, the gesture underscores the need for humanitarian action in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany's full military support for Ukraine, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ruled out any direct involvement of Italian soldiers in the conflict.

The war in Ukraine remains an extremely complex conflict, with implications that go far beyond the borders of the two countries involved. International tensions, military escalation and humanitarian consequences make it difficult to foresee a short-term resolution. However, the growing diplomatic and humanitarian engagement of many countries suggests that the international community is working towards a sustainable solution.