Putin's presidential advisor is holding talks in the US despite recent tensions. A Russian warship is anchored off the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn – according to authorities, it is being closely monitored. It is suspected of being linked to drone flights over Denmark. More in the live ticker.

The US government has imposed new sanctions against Russia. Peace in Ukraine is nowhere in sight. Russian aircraft are once again flying through NATO airspace—this time in Lithuania.

All events surrounding the war in Ukraine and security policy in Europe in the live ticker:

6:29 PM – Russian special envoy confirms talks in the US

Russian Special Envoy and Presidential Advisor Kirill Dmitriev confirms he is in the United States for talks. The dialogue between the United States and Russia will continue, President Putin's special representative told the Reuters news agency."My meeting was planned for some time, and the American side did not cancel it despite a series of recent unfriendly steps." Dmitriev did not specify who he was meeting with.

5:47 PM – Orbán: Hungary wants to circumvent new US sanctions against Russian oil companies

According to Prime Minister Orbán, the Hungarian government will seek ways to circumvent the new US sanctions against Russian energy companies."There are sanctions against certain Russian oil companies (...). We are working on ways to circumvent these (sanctions)," Orbán said in a radio interview on Friday. On Wednesday, the US imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in light of the lack of progress in Ukraine peace talks with Russia.

"Anyone who wants a reduction in energy prices must defend Hungary's right to buy oil and gas from Russia, or at the same price as in Russia, or cheaper," Orbán added. Hungary is considered the Kremlin's closest ally among the 27 EU member states. Despite the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian oil.

2:58 p.m. – Media: Putin's special representative Dmitriev for talks in the USA

According to media reports, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev and US special representative Steve Vitkoff will hold talks in the US this weekend. Dmitriev and Vitkoff are expected to meet on Saturday, a reporter from the US portal Axios reported on the online platform X. According to an insider, Dmitriev has already arrived in the US. The Russian state news agency RIA also reports that Russian President Putin's special envoy is in the US for talks. US broadcaster CNN previously reported that Dmitriev is expected to meet with representatives of the Trump administration"to continue discussions on US-Russia relations."

3:46 PM – Government: US sanctions do not affect Rosneft Germany

The German government assumes that the new US sanctions against the Russian oil sector will not affect Rosneft's German subsidiaries, which are under trusteeship."Because these are separated from the Russian parent company, partly by the sanctions, and partly by the trusteeship," said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Berlin. This also applies to the refineries and other companies in which Rosneft Germany holds shares. The government is in contact with the relevant authorities in Washington regarding details.

Chancellor Merz also expressed confidence on the sidelines of the EU summit that Rosneft in Germany would not be affected."So we will talk about this with the Americans. I assume that a corresponding exemption for Rosneft (...) will also be granted," he said. The question is whether an exemption is even necessary, because the US government has clarified that only companies with a Russian stake of more than 50 percent are affected.

Rosneft Germany includes, among other things, the PCK refinery, which supplies large parts of the northeast and Berlin with petrol, heating oil, and kerosene. It is 54 percent owned by German subsidiaries of the Russian state-owned company. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the federal government placed the Rosneft subsidiaries under trusteeship, and it retains control.

3:22 p.m. − Russian warship spotted off the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn

The Russian landing ship"Aleksandr Shabalin" has been anchored within sight of the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn since Sunday. According to information from the"Kieler Nachrichten," the German Federal Police and Navy are closely monitoring the activities of the approximately 112-meter-long vessel in the Bay of Lübeck.

"We are monitoring the ship very closely. It is allowed to be there because it is outside German territorial waters," said Wulf Winterhoff, spokesman for the Federal Police Directorate in Bad Bramstedt. The Navy has deployed the tender"Werra" from Kiel for observation. The"Shabalin" was already moored west of Fehmarn in September.

The landing craft is suspected of being linked to drone flights over Danish airports in September. It was discovered among Danish islands within drone range.

Johannes Peters, head of the Maritime Strategy and Security Department at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, told the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper:"We've recently seen that the Russian Navy is using naval units to target certain sea areas in the Baltic Sea and position them there." The proximity to important shipping routes is no coincidence: "With such a large ship, you're simply demonstrating a presence near the sea routes that are also used by tankers."

2:44 p.m. − Russia reports capture of ten Ukrainian villages

The Russian military claims to have captured ten Ukrainian villages within a week. The Defense Ministry in Moscow announced this. There has been no response from the Ukrainian side. The advances are part of an attempt to encircle the remaining Ukrainian strongholds in the Donetsk region from both the north and south and to create bases for a further westward advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region.

13:46 − Police: Four dead and twelve injured in explosion at Ukrainian train station

According to authorities, four people were killed and twelve others injured in a hand grenade attack in Ukraine. During a personal check on a train in the Zhytomyr region, a man detonated the grenade while being questioned by a border guard, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Maryana Reva told the internet portal"Ukrainska Pravda." "The border guard who questioned the man, the man himself, and, according to preliminary information, two other passengers were killed," she said.

The circumstances of the crime are unclear. A border police spokesperson stated that the 23-year-old suspect had recently been arrested while attempting to leave the country heading west.

12:45 p.m. − CDU General Secretary calls for reduced influx of able-bodied Ukrainians to Germany

The CDU wants to slow the rapid increase in the number of Ukrainians fit for military service in Germany."We need Ukrainian soldiers to defend our country," CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann told Stern magazine on Friday."That's why it's not right that so many young men, in particular, are currently leaving Ukraine." Germany supports Ukraine "out of conviction - but the rapid influx to Germany must be stopped," Linnemann demanded. CSU leader Markus Söder recently made similar comments.

At the end of August, the Ukrainian government relaxed its exit regulations: Men between 18 and 22 years of age are now allowed to leave the country again. This has led to significantly more young men coming to Germany from Ukraine. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of young Ukrainians aged 18 to 22 entering the country has increased from 19 per week in mid-August to between 1,400 and 1,800 per week recently.

11:39 a.m. − North Korea erects memorial for its soldiers killed in the Ukraine war

North Korea, which is largely isolated internationally, plans to honor its soldiers who died alongside Russia in the Ukraine war with its own memorial. The"Combat Achievement Memorial Museum" will be built in the capital, Pyongyang, the North Korean news agency KCNA reported on Friday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the construction as a"historic high point" in his country's relations with Moscow. According to KCNA, Kim said the museum is"a sacred place" at the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora. It is dedicated to the"immortality of true patriots."

10:55 a.m. − Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter calls on Merz to be more decisive against Russia

Anton Hofreiter (B'90/Greens), Member of the Bundestag and Chairman of the Bundestag's European Affairs Committee, criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz after yesterday's EU summit:"As opposition leader, he made a big deal about delivering Taurus – now he's Chancellor, there's no talk of that at all. Of course, you can't exert any pressure that way," Hofreiter said in an interview with the television station Phoenix.

Germany, as Europe's economically strongest country, is not acting decisively enough towards Russia, whose economy is comparable to that of Italy:"If we act decisively, we can end this war," said the Bundestag member. Putin will continue the war as long as he believes he can win. Therefore, Europe, independent of the USA, must increase pressure on Russia – to the point"that Russia develops a vested interest in implementing a ceasefire." Ultimately, what is needed above all is the delivery of long-range weapons to enable Ukraine"to destroy the drone factories in Russia" and to demonstrate determination towards Russia, said Anton Hofreiter.

08:02 − Economics Minister Reiche arrives in Ukraine

German Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has arrived in Ukraine accompanied by a business delegation for a visit."We will do everything we can to ensure Ukraine gets through this winter well," the minister announced in a conversation with journalists upon her arrival in Kyiv. This includes supporting the reconstruction of destroyed energy infrastructure."Russia has targeted Ukraine's energy supply from the very beginning because they want to wear down the Ukrainian people," Reiche said.

She promised increased financial support and a stronger commitment from German energy equipment manufacturers. According to her, Germany will also provide additional funds for the purchase of natural gas. Between 55 and 60 percent of the gas infrastructure has been affected by the attacks, Reiche said. Berlin has already contributed a third to a €390 million energy support fund for Ukraine. German drone manufacturers are also expected to establish cooperation agreements with the Ukrainian arms industry during the trip.

05:28 − Russian money for Ukraine? EU wants decision in December

The EU has taken a step forward with its plans to use frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine. However, given significant concerns from key player Belgium, it remains unclear whether these plans can actually be implemented. A decision is expected shortly before Christmas, as EU Council President António Costa announced after an EU summit in Brussels, which was also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This afternoon, the so-called Coalition of the Willing will also meet in London to discuss further support for Kyiv before winter.

At the meeting in Brussels, the heads of state and government tasked the EU Commission with presenting a proposal on the use of Russian assets as soon as possible. However, at Belgium's urging, the Commission should also develop other options to cover Ukraine's financial needs for 2026-2027, according to a statement released that evening.

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