Zelensky calls Romanian counterpart
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he had called Romania’s president Nicursor Dan to discuss ongoing diplomacy and “further defence assistance to Ukraine”.
“We also covered defense cooperation – our capabilities and the systems we are ready to export to Romania, as well as the projects we can jointly implement within the SAFE instrument,” he said.
“We have strong potential for a partnership, and we are equally interested in its realisation.
“I invited the President to visit Ukraine, and our teams will work on preparing the visit to ensure it delivers practical results.”
James Reynolds7 November 2025 23:00
US ‘backs EU using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine’
The US supports the EU mobilising frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine in order to help end the war, a US source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Friday.
James Reynolds7 November 2025 22:00
Where do things stand on oil?
President Donald Trump said on Friday he’s considering granting Hungary an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy as he sat down with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House.
“We’re looking at it because its very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas,” Trump said.
Orban said it’s a “vital” issue for his landlocked country, and said he planned to discuss with Trump the “consequences for the Hungarian people” if the sanctions took effect.
In comments on Friday, Orban said he would present Trump with several “suggestions” for implementing an exemption.
“I’m not asking for some kind of gift from the Americans or some kind of unusual thing. I am simply asking for the realisation that the sanctions recently imposed on Russian energy puts certain countries like Hungary, which do not have access to the sea, in an impossible situation,” Orban said on state radio.
“I’m going to ask the president to acknowledge that.”
James Reynolds7 November 2025 20:59
Recap: Orban meets Trump at the White House
Donald Trump met with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban at the White House on Friday to discuss Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil.
Trump offered a glowing appraisal of Orban’s handling of domestic policy, calling him a “great leader” before they walked into the building.
Orban spoke of a ‘Golden Age’ in US-Hungarian relations, and showered Trump with praise in turn.
Reporters were more interested in the war in Ukraine. Orban maintains friendly relations with both Washington and Moscow as Trump pushes Europe to wean itself off Russian oil and gas.
Orban accused “other governments” of “misunderstanding” the war, thinking Ukraine could win. Asked by Trump whether he thought Ukraine cannot win the win, Orban said: “Miracles can happen.” Trump laughed: “Yeah, that’s right.”
Trump maintained that he would discuss a possible summit with Putin after talks on one in Budapest collapsed. Trump said he would like for a summit to be in Budapest still.
He also said he believed Russia would soon push for an end to the nearly four-year conflict. He said Russia was losing the lion share of soldiers prosecuting its invasion.
James Reynolds7 November 2025 19:30
Angelina Jolie’s Ukraine visit sparks row as military recruiters seize her driver
Jolie, a Unicef ambassador, was visiting the south of the country to meet with children impacted by the war, local media reported.
The celebrity was seen playing with a group of children in Kherson, a region attacked by Russian forces with drones and missiles on an almost daily basis.
Maira Butt7 November 2025 19:00
In pictures: Trump and Orban take questions from the press
Orban sat next to Trump to speak to reporters. Last time around, Zelensky sat opposite (Getty)The press conference lasted about an hour, covering the war in Ukraine, Hungarian domestic politics and the US government shutdown (AP)
James Reynolds7 November 2025 18:32
Press conference ends
Donald Trump’s press conference with Viktor Orban has ended nearly an hour after the prime minister’s arrival at the White House.
Trump spent the last segment of the conference talking about the US government shutdown.
James Reynolds7 November 2025 18:30
Trump would still like a summit in Budapest
Trump says that were a summit with Putin to go ahead, he would like for it to still be in Hungary’s Budapest.
James Reynolds7 November 2025 18:20
Trump addresses Budapest summit break down
Answering a question on why the Budapest summit with Putin broke down, Trump says: “The basic dispute is they just don’t want to stop yet. I think they will. It’s taken a big toll on Russia.
“They’re losing 7,000 soldiers a week. That’s a big toll. Between the two of them. Divided with Russia losing more soldiers actually.”
James Reynolds7 November 2025 18:09
Trump happy with Europe – but remains at odds over Russian oil purchases
“I think pretty much every single leader of Europe is a friend of mine … they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do with NATO, et cetera,” Trump continues.
“The only thing they continue to do is buy oil from Russia. That’s not too good.”
James Reynolds7 November 2025 18:06
