{"id":540479,"date":"2025-10-31T19:37:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T19:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/540479\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T19:37:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T19:37:12","slug":"this-week-in-the-russia-ukraine-war-october-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/540479\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in the Russia-Ukraine War (October 31)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Head-onSource: U.S. Air Force<\/a>Ukraine is negotiating for Dassault\u00a0Rafale fighter jets, following news last week of plans to acquire Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighters. Pictured here is a French Rafale B during an exercise in Germany, Nov. 7, 2024.<\/p>\n

Political Developments<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Donald Trump, frustrated by the lack of progress in ending the Russia-Ukraine war, stated he wants China\u2019s help to pressure Russia<\/a>, ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping. Despite China being Russia\u2019s biggest ally and a vital source of support against Western sanctions, Trump also recently imposed his administration\u2019s first direct sanctions on Russia\u2019s two largest oil companies.<\/p>\n

Trump had been planning to meet Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin in Budapest, but that summit was cancelled<\/a> after Russia sent a memorandum demanding harsh concessions from Ukraine in exchange for an end to the war, the Financial Times\u00a0reported this week.<\/p>\n

Russian oil company Lukoil said<\/a> this week that it will sell its international assets in wake of the new American sanctions targeting it and Rosneft. Lukoil, which operates in 11 countries, is already in dialogue with potential buyers for its foreign assets.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Monday, the Kenyan Foreign Ministry warned<\/a> that Kenyans have been \u2018lured\u2019 by Russia into fighting for its military in the war in Ukraine. The ministry did not provide an estimate for how many Kenyan citizens are involved in the war, but said it raised the issue with Russia at a meeting in September.<\/p>\n

The U.S. is down-sizing<\/a> some of its troop deployments in eastern Europe, with cuts to personnel in Romania to be followed in time by reductions in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia.<\/p>\n

A Kremlin official stated that Russia\u2019s recent test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile<\/a>, also known as Skyfall, reflects Moscow\u2019s determination to ensure its security interests. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov linked the test to \u201cmilitaristic sentiment\u201d from Europeans and noted it came as the U.S. prepared new sanctions on Russia\u2019s energy sector. U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Putin\u2019s talk about missiles was not \u201cappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Military Assistance to Ukraine<\/strong><\/p>\n

The British government is urging its European allies to increase the supply of long-range missiles<\/a> to Ukraine. This call comes as the UK and France have already provided Storm Shadow and SCALP long-range missiles, while Kyiv continues to press Germany for the equivalent TAURUS missiles.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that Kyiv is also negotiating for the Rafale fighter jet<\/a>, alongside its plans to acquire the JAS-39 Gripen from Saab. Zelensky noted that Ukraine has a long-term goal of procuring 250 new combat jets.<\/p>\n

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Sunday that Bratislava will not participate<\/a> in any E.U.-wide program for financing military aid to Ukraine. Fico\u2019s government cut aid to Ukraine when it came to power in 2023.<\/p>\n

Battlefield Updates<\/strong><\/p>\n

Operating from a secret rural location, Ukraine is ramping up its long-range drone campaign<\/a> to strike deep inside Russia at strategic targets like oil refineries and military logistics hubs, with homegrown aircraft like the Liutyi now having a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. These attacks, which are now cheaper and fly further, have caused gasoline shortages in Russia and force Moscow to commit air defenses to a wider area, giving Kyiv an important, autonomous strike capability.<\/p>\n

Russia launched a significant missile strike against Ukrainian territory<\/a> overnight on October 29-30, involving 52 missiles and over 650 drones.\u00a0 Ukrainian officials reported that their air defenses were successful in intercepting 31 of the incoming projectiles.<\/p>\n

The Russian military has been utilizing the 9M729 cruise missile<\/a> for strikes on Ukraine over recent months, Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha said this week. As many as 23 missiles have been fired at Ukraine since August, one of which flew 1,200 kilometers. Disputes between Moscow and Washington over the 9M729 missile prompted the U.S. in 2019 to withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which barred the deployment of ground-based missiles capable of ranges above 500 kilometers.<\/p>\n

Ukraine showed off an upgraded variant<\/a> of its Sea Baby unmanned surface vessel on October 22. The USV comes equipped with a 122mm multiple rocket launcher and 12.7mm remote machine gun enabling it to engage maritime and coastal targets. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For 50 years, Forecast International intelligence reports have been the aerospace and defense industry standard for accurate research, analysis, and projections. Our experienced analysts compile, evaluate, and present accurate data for decision makers. FI’s market research reports offer concise analysis of individual programs and identify market opportunities. Each report includes a program overview, detailed statistics, recent developments and a competitive analysis, culminating in production forecasts spanning 10 or 15 years. Let our market intelligence reports be a key part of reducing uncertainties and mastering your specific market and its growth potential. Find out more at www.forecastinternational.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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