Ukraine-Russia war latest: Melania Trump to host Kyiv and Moscow for ‘extraordinary’ summit at White House

US ​first lady ‌Melania Trump will ​host ​representatives of Russia ⁠and ​Ukraine at ​the White House on ​Thursday, the Trump administration has said.Her office said that she would personally bring unnamed officials from the warring countries together in an “extraordinary moment in American history”.“This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American first lady,” the White House said, adding that she would also deliver remarks about the ceasefire in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, which she was involved in brokering.The announcement came amid a major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and following a devastating Russian strike on a school being used for aid distribution in Zaporizhzhia that killed at least 33 people.Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko described the situation with power in the capital as “extremely difficult” and said the attacks “create a threat not only to Ukraine but also to nuclear safety throughout Europe.”President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight, hitting power plants and substations from the Black Sea port of Odesa in the south to Rivne in the west.Melania Trump to host Russia and Ukraine at White HouseUS ​first lady ‌Melania Trump will ​host ​representatives of Russia ⁠and ​Ukraine at ​the White House on ​Thursday, the Trump administration has said.Her office said that she would personally bring unnamed officials from the warring countries together in an “extraordinary moment in American history”.“This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American first lady,” the White House said, adding that she would also deliver remarks about the ceasefire in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, which she was involved in brokering.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 November 2026 04:27Poland thwarts Russian ‘provocation’ on border, says TuskPoland has thwarted a potential Russian “provocation” on its border, according to the country’s prime minister Donald Tusk.Tensions have been mounting between the countries over a series of issues including airspace violations and diplomatic disagreements as Europe remains concerned about a wider escalation from Moscow.On Tuesday Polish police units were sent to the country’s border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Tusk said.More here.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 November 2026 04:00Crimea orders power cuts after 'accident'Crimea ⁠has enforced power cuts after an accident outside the region, ⁠Oleg ​Kryuchkov, an ⁠adviser to its Russia-installed governor, ⁠said on Telegram.The ‌cause of the incident in the ‌peninsula Russia illegally annexed from ‌Ukraine in 2014 was not immediately ⁠clear.A drone attack in the nearby Adygeya Republic, close to the city of Krasnodar in Russia's south, set fire to ​a logistics ‌hub of Russian ⁠retailer Ozon, the ⁠company said. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 November 2026 03:00Russian strike on school kills at least 31 in Ukraine villageJane Dalton4 November 2026 02:30Europe must grow as US shrinks, Zelensky saysPresident Zelensky has thanked Germany for its support, and warned that as the United States’ role in the world shrinks, Europe’s role must become even greater.In an address at the Berlin Security Conference, he said: “Without America, thousands and thousands more Ukrainians would have been killed by Russian strikes. And millions more would have become refugees. That’s why we always thank America. And we mean it.”In an apparent reference to Donald Trump, who once accused Mr Zelensky of not being grateful enough, he added: “Even when we say thank you many times in one speech. Just to make sure those who sometimes feel we haven’t thanked them enough can hear us.” He went on: “But we also know that without Europe, Ukraine would not have survived. Without Germany and other European countries, without the EU. The Russians would have burned down far more of our cities and villages if it were not for your help.“The United States’ role in the world may become even smaller. So Europe’s role in the world must become even greater. And without Germany, this is impossible. Without you, freedom will surely lose.“Freedom and security in Europe have no alternative to your commitment and your strength. Europe has no alternative to Germany. Please remember that.”Jane Dalton4 November 2026 02:00Poland thwarts Russian ‘provocation’ on border, says TuskJane Dalton4 November 2026 01:00Displaced Ukrainian pupils in UK to be offered GCSE in their languagePupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will soon be able to study a Ukrainian GCSE, the UK’s Department of Education has announced.Aimed at young people displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the new qualification, from 2028, hopes to help pupils preserve their cultural heritage.The decision follows reports that the number of people taking Russian GCSEs had spiked in recent years, potentially because Ukrainian pupils were encouraged to take it, in the absence of a Ukrainian qualification.It was reported last year that Ukrainian officials were “deeply concerned” at potentially retraumatising displaced teenagers by pushing them to learn Russian.Education secretary Lucy Powell said it was right for Ukrainians and their children to have every opportunity to maintain a connection to their heritage. Jane Dalton4 November 2026 00:01Russia knocks out power to swathes of UkraineRussia pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones on Tuesday.It follows a deadly strike on a school being used for aid distribution in the village of Komyshuvakha on Monday, which killed at least 33 people.The latest attacks have knocked out power to swathes of the country and DTEK, Ukraine's largest private generating company, said three of its five thermal power plants had been knocked offline as a result.Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko described the situation with power in the city as “extremely difficult.”He said the attacks “create a threat not only to Ukraine but also to nuclear safety throughout Europe.”Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight, hitting power plants and substations from the Black Sea port of Odesa in the south to Rivne in the west.Harriette Boucher3 November 2026 23:30Nuclear plant worker killed by Ukrainian drone, says RussiaBosses at Ukraine's Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant say a Ukrainian drone has killed two people in a car, including a female employee. A statement said the employee was the ⁠third killed in the ​past ⁠two weeks and the 13th since April."Attacks on civilian cars, killing `of peaceful people - this is targeted terrorism. People must not become targets," the statement said. Ukraine did not comment. Russian forces seized the plant, Europe's largest ‌with six reactors, in the ‌first weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has ⁠since regularly accused the other of military actions that compromise nuclear safety.The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said last week that an employee at the plant had been killed.Jane Dalton3 November 2026 23:00Investigation launched into clashes at military dormitory Ukraine is investigating clashes that erupted late on Monday between protesters and authorities at a military dormitory near Kyiv, officials say.They said they believed the clashes had been engineered to discredit Ukraine's war effort.A crowd of around 100 people reportedly gathered at a National Guard base housing nearly two dozen new draftees and soldiers brought back from unauthorised leave, following social media reports of alleged torture and violence against recruits there. Some members of the crowd attacked service personnel and police who had arrived at the scene, authorities said.The National ⁠Guard commander and President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff ​visited ⁠the site.State investigators and the military ombudsman's office said they were trying to determine how the 22 men, four of whom required medical attention, had been drafted or detained after taking the unauthorised leave. Ukraine's draft has been marred by reports of abuse and corruption — frequently ​amplified ⁠by Russian social media and state outlets. Conscription ‌officers and centres have also been attacked.The deputy head of Ukraine's domestic security service said the incident had been engineered to free one of the men and spark a public outcry, news agency Interfax Ukraine reported. Investigators have opened a criminal case on charges ‌of mass riots and impeding the work of the military, Ukraine's national police chief said.At the same briefing, Ukraine's interior minister said the allegations of torture at the military dormitory were fake, Interfax reported.Jane Dalton3 November 2026 22:00