Today’s coverage is dominated by the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi. The other main stories are the Krakow shooting, a deadly industrial disaster in Türkiye, the ECB succession race and the opening of COP31.

Ukraine: US-mediated talks open in Abu Dhabi

Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the US meet in Abu Dhabi today to discuss ending Europe’s worst conflict since World War II. It is the first such meeting in more than nine months, with another winter of war approaching.

Europe’s role. A joint EU team will attend, along with France, Germany and the UK, and the possibility of engaging directly with the Russians remains open. According to Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and EU officials will hold separate talks with Kyiv’s delegation. The Kremlin’s line is different: Peskov said the format is trilateral between Russia, the US and Ukraine. Europe is alarmed that Trump floated a deal with Moscow on European security ahead of the talks.

Territory. The most contentious issue is Trump’s weekend interview. He told “60 Minutes” that Ukraine will “end up with a little bit different shape.” He did not say whether he meant changes to territorial control, borders or other elements of a settlement. Zelensky has noted that Ukraine’s constitution protects its territorial integrity, which makes a formal concession illegal. Moscow welcomed Trump’s remarks.

Russia on Europe. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia has no plans to attack European nations and called Western talk of military conflict unfounded.

Preparing for the aftermath. Around 2,800 troops from 11 countries are taking part in Exercise Koalicja in Poland, running 9 to 22 November. It is the first exercise by the Multinational Force Ukraine, the military arm of the Coalition of the Willing. It is held at Nowa Dęba, about 100 km from the Ukrainian border. The force is not designed as a wartime combat force or a traditional peacekeeping mission.

Poland: Krakow market square shooting

The Krakow shooting is still shaping the news in Poland. Six people were killed and 16 wounded on Saturday afternoon in a busy market square. Poland’s defence minister called it an “act of terror.” The gunman, a 24-year-old Polish citizen, aimed at random people as he drove into the Main Square, a major tourist destination. Police shot him and he is now in custody. Police said he acted alone, and mass shootings are uncommon in Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police are investigating the background and circumstances of the attack.

Türkiye: steelworks explosion near Izmir

A blast and fire at the Habas iron and steel plant in Aliaga, Izmir province, happened when an overhead crane toppled into a furnace during liquid steel casting. The toll has climbed through the day. Erdogan said the fire killed 16 people and injured 13, two of them critically. Euronews’ morning bulletin cited at least 17 dead and 13 injured. Search teams had earlier been looking for workers believed to be under the wreckage, so figures may still change.

Climate: COP31 opens in Antalya

Türkiye is hosting COP31 from 9 to 20 November, with Australia presiding over the negotiations. The talks opened with an early fight over money, as UN chief António Guterres urged leaders to “get serious” after a year of extreme weather. US delegates will attend but won’t take part in negotiations. Developing nations are demanding clearer timelines for promised financial support.

Economy: the race to succeed Lagarde

Christine Lagarde will step down as ECB president on 7 February 2027, and European Council President António Costa has opened the selection process. The Eurogroup president named Spain’s Pablo Hernández de Cos and the Netherlands’ Klaas Knot as the two candidates. Hernández de Cos is 55 and was Bank of Spain governor from 2018 to 2024. He now runs the Bank for International Settlements. Euronews’ morning programme features Eurogroup president Kyriakos Pierrakakis on rising energy prices and the succession, plus an interview with Spain’s economy minister, Carlos Cuerpo, whose government is pushing Hernández de Cos.

The energy backdrop is not new. In May, EU officials warned that oil and gas prices would stay elevated until at least the end of 2027, with energy driving inflation.

Cyprus

Reunification talks are back in the news after Monday’s meeting of the island’s two leaders with the UN envoy. UN envoy María Ángela Holguín said last week she was optimistic after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. I couldn’t find a detailed readout of Monday’s meeting.

UK: Russell Brand sentenced

Russell Brand was sentenced in London on Monday to 10½ years in prison for the rape and sexual assaults of which he was convicted last week. TMZ reports he plans to appeal, though no appeal has been filed yet.

Also making headlines

• Nvidia / alleged Chinese spy. The New York Times reported that Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen, was recruited by Beijing to gather intelligence on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Huang admitted in an employee memo to being “unfaithful” to his wife, and Nvidia’s board has opened an independent investigation. The spy allegations remain unproven. Euronews also flags that Trump called Huang an “honorable guy.”
• A lighter note. Euronews is showing footage of a double waterspout off Italy’s island of Capri.

Coming up

The ninth European Political Community summit is on Thursday, 12 November, at the Convention Centre Dublin, chaired by Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin.