Issue 4317 October – 23 October
The world, from another angle.
Ukraine: the negotiation runs through Moscow again.
Sanctions suspended, a summit floated without Kyiv, a US envoy received in Saint Petersburg: in one week, Washington reopens its channel to the Kremlin, while Ukraine strikes Russian oil and demands its seat at the table; in France, the cost-of-living protest day ends in curfews; in the West Bank, Israel's election campaign unfolds under closure.
Published 26 October 2026
In this issue
Ukraine: Washington eases its grip on Moscow
On Friday 16 October, Donald Trump suspended by executive order the sanctions and tariffs of the Graham Act against Russia, two days before they were due to take effect. The week followed that thread: a summit with Xi Jinping floated without Kyiv, then envoy Steve Witkoff received by Vladimir Putin on Wednesday 21, the release of an American and a Kremlin ready to resume three-way negotiations in November.2136821
France: the cost-of-living protest day ends in curfews
On Saturday 17 October, around 550,000 people marched according to the interior ministry, 800,000 according to organisers. The Limoges town hall burned and shops were looted; the revised toll stands at 2,397 arrests. On Monday 19, Sébastien Lecornu asked for localised curfews, after the interior minister acknowledged a “loss of control”.14174720
West Bank: diplomats beaten, a city sealed off
On Saturday 17, settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats in Taybeh and beat a 78-year-old French mayor. On Sunday 18, Donald Trump gave his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the 27 October legislative election. On Friday 23, after two Israeli soldiers were killed near Hebron, the prime minister had the city sealed off and announced a large-scale operation.12111518102524
The cover story
Ukraine: Washington reopens its channel to Moscow, Kyiv demands its seat
Our previous edition described a week in which Washington's pressure fell on Kyiv, urged to stop striking Russian refineries. This one shows the Russian side. On Friday 16 October, Donald Trump suspended the sanctions Congress had voted against Russia; on Sunday 18, the Wall Street Journal reported that Vladimir Putin had proposed a summit with Xi Jinping, without Ukraine; on Wednesday 21, Steve Witkoff was received in Saint Petersburg, where Russia released an American held since 2022 and said it was ready to resume three-way negotiations in November.213619821
Kyiv did not stand still. On the night of 17 to 18 October, more than a thousand drones targeted Russia, including the Saint Petersburg oil terminal; on Tuesday 20, Volodymyr Zelensky met Steve Witkoff in Oslo with European leaders; all week, the throttling of Starlink pitted Washington against Kyiv. This dossier reconstructs the sequence, explains the mechanism that allows a sanctions law to be suspended, and separates what is established from what has only been announced.3158229
The context
How the week unfolded
Donald Trump suspends by executive order the Graham Act sanctions against Russia.132
In France, around 550,000 people march against the cost of living; in Taybeh, settlers attack European diplomats.1412
More than 1,000 Ukrainian drones target Russia; Donald Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the election.1518
Steve Witkoff is received by Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg; Stephen Hubbard is released.218
Two Israeli soldiers killed near Hebron; Kyiv says the Starlink restrictions remain.2523
For subscribers
The facts are where the story begins.
Continue with the full analysis: the connections between the facts, their consequences and what remains uncertain.
Our sources, an open book.25 references in this reading
- Cisjordanie : des colons israéliens attaquent des diplomates européens et frappent un maire français
The Refract — 17 October 2026
- États-Unis : Donald Trump suspend les sanctions contre la Russie votées par le Congrès
The Refract — 17 October 2026
- Russie : plus de 1 000 drones ukrainiens, le terminal pétrolier de Saint-Pétersbourg en feu
The Refract — 18 October 2026
- France : après 1 800 interpellations, Emmanuel Macron promet la fermeté face aux « factieux »
The Refract — 18 October 2026
- Israël : Donald Trump apporte son « soutien total » à Benyamin Netanyahou avant les législatives
The Refract — 19 October 2026
- Ukraine : Vladimir Poutine propose un sommet à trois avec Donald Trump et Xi Jinping, sans Kiev
The Refract — 19 October 2026
- France : après les émeutes, Sébastien Lecornu ordonne des couvre-feux localisés
The Refract — 19 October 2026
- Russie : Steve Witkoff chez Vladimir Poutine, Moscou libère un Américain et se dit prête à reprendre les pourparlers en novembre
The Refract — 21 October 2026
- Ukraine : Donald Trump assure qu'Elon Musk a rétabli Starlink, Kiev affirme que les restrictions demeurent
The Refract — 23 October 2026
- Cisjordanie : après la mort de deux soldats à Hébron, Benyamin Netanyahou ordonne un bouclage et annonce une vaste opération
The Refract — 23 October 2026
- Cisjordanie occupée : des colons attaquent un convoi diplomatique et frappent un maire français
France 24 — 17 October 2026
- Cisjordanie occupée: un maire français frappé par des colons lors de l'attaque d'un convoi de diplomates...
BFMTV — 17 October 2026
- Trump suspende la aplicación de las nuevas sanciones contra Rusia que promulgó recientemente
Clarín — 17 October 2026
- Clashes, fires and looting break out across France
PerthNow — 17 October 2026
- Russland meldet Drohnenangriffe in St. Petersburg
Tagesschau — 18 October 2026
- Karas Ukrainoje. Rusija skelbia netoli Sankt Peterburgo numušusi dešimtis Ukrainos dronų
15min — 18 October 2026
- Macron vows action against rioters after France protests leave trail of destruction
TBS Top News — 18 October 2026
- Trump urges Israelis to re-elect ‘Great Warrior’ Netanyahu in stunning intervention
The Age World — 19 October 2026
- Putin proposes summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine deal, WSJ says
Business Recorder — 19 October 2026
- France protests: PM calls for curfews as govt grapples with unrest
The Daily Star — 19 October 2026
- Putin announces release of imprisoned US citizen during meeting with Witkoff
ABC News Australia — 21 October 2026
- Ukraine-Krieg: Trump-Gesandter Witkoff reist nach Russland
Handelsblatt — 21 October 2026
- Trump administration offers mixed messages on limits to Ukraine’s Starshield access
Globe and Mail — 23 October 2026
- Após ataque, Netanyahu promete ofensiva na Cisjordânia 'como não se vê desde a Guerra dos Seis Dias'
Folha de S.Paulo — 23 October 2026
- Israel orders West Bank closure after soldiers killed in attack
Globe and Mail — 23 October 2026