Summary
Highlights
A Pakistani delegation is in Kabul to discuss reopening border crossings, marking their first visit since recent clashes. Meanwhile, a potential summit between the US and Russian presidents regarding Ukraine has been delayed, with an initial preparatory meeting between their foreign ministers also postponed. This delay stems from differing views on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, revealed during a phone call between Rubio and Lavrov. Hungary's Foreign Minister is in Washington to prepare for a visit by Trump to Budapest.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov discussed preparations for the summit with US counterpart Rubio, emphasizing progress on understandings reached in Alaska. The summit's timing remains uncertain. Trump has proposed a ceasefire at the current contact line in Ukraine, a suggestion supported by several European countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as Ukraine. However, these nations also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kyiv and the principle of not altering international borders by force. They are also working on mechanisms to utilize frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine.
According to Trump, the current territorial division in Ukraine, with Russia controlling an estimated 114,000 square kilometers (20% of Ukraine's territory), might be the best solution. Russian forces control 78% of the Donbas region, including nearly all of Luhansk (99%) and 76% of Donetsk. Russia is intensifying attacks on remaining cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Additionally, Russia controls about 73% of Zaporizhzhia, including the Energodar nuclear power plant, and a similar percentage of Kherson.
A correspondent from Moscow, Raed Al-Akhbar, reported on the delayed summit between the US and Russian presidents. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, stated that while the atmosphere for the summit is positive, no date has been set, and it might be postponed. Peskov also commented on the logistical impossibility of the US and Russian presidents traveling on the same plane and the prematurity of discussing European participation in a second Trump-Putin summit. He highlighted Russia's concern over NATO military exercises on Europe's eastern borders. Lavrov stated that a ceasefire now would mean a large part of Ukraine would remain under Nazi control, according to his description.
Israeli drones were seen flying intensely and at low altitudes over Beirut, Beqaa, and South Lebanon. Israeli forces also fired machine guns from the Ruweisat Al-Alam site towards Kafr Shuba in southern Lebanon. In Syria, Minister of Economy Muhammad Nidal Al-Shaar announced that Syria has begun restructuring its sovereign debt and hopes for the lifting of US sanctions soon. He called for international support for this process and mentioned the government's plans to issue a new currency by early next year. The World Bank estimates Syria's reconstruction costs at $216 billion, with direct material damage to infrastructure at $108 billion.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that a military committee met with a Syrian government delegation in Tabqa to discuss recent tensions in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods. The SDF handed over detained Syrian government forces as a goodwill gesture. In rural Damascus, anti-narcotics authorities seized approximately 12 million Captagon pills and half a ton of hashish intended for smuggling to Jordan. This was described as one of the largest seizures since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, with authorities stating they will not allow Syrian territory to be a transit route for drugs.