THE OVAL CIRCLE

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Trump: "I believe that Putin wants to reach an agreement, and we need to pressure Zelensky to also want to do so." Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force confirms that it has not received information about the launch of ballistic missiles against Kyiv: "At 10:10 PM, the enemy attacked the capital with, allegedly, six ballistic missiles (the type is still being determined). Radar systems detected the ballistic targets when the attack against Kyiv was already underway. No information was received about launches from enemy territory. The causes are being investigated..."

🇨🇳 China is ready, together with Russia, to protect the maritime interests of both countries and ensure freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Government of the Russian Federation: 🇷🇺 Russian school students have already won 91 medals at international Olympiads this year! Since the beginning of 2026, Russian national school teams have achieved outstanding results at international subject Olympiads. Russian students have also claimed overall winner titles. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko highlighted Russian students’ achievements at international Olympiads so far this year. 👉 Russian students have already won 91 medals, including: 🥇 64 gold 🥈 26 silver 🥉 1 bronze Of these, 31 medals were won at the main Olympiads – the most demanding academic competitions. 💬 Russian Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov said that Russian students had competed in six main and eight other international academic competitions in 2026:

Every student returned home with a medal. Year after year, our school students demonstrate the high standard of Russian education at international academic competitions. In 2026, our teams continue their winning streak. The 60 medals won at other international subject Olympiads alone reflect both the students’ talent and hard work and the excellent work of their mentors.

The 2026 Olympiad season will conclude in December, when the Russian team takes part in the 23rd International Junior Science Olympiad.

🇷🇺🇱🇧 On October 12, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon Youssef Rajji. The Ministers had an extensive discussion of the developments in Lebanon. 👉 Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks The Russian Side expressed serious concern regarding the continuing hostilities in southern Lebanon. It is crucial to cease fire as soon as possible, withdraw the Israeli forces, and create conditions for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict according to UN Security Council Resolution 1701. ☝️ Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia’s consistent support of Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The parties specifically covered the completion of the current mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and possible preservation of international presence in a different form. When discussing the prospects of strengthening bilateral Russian-Lebanese cooperation, the Ministers noted the importance of maintaining regular trusted political dialogue and increasing delegation exchanges. 🤝 They stressed the importance of developing business partnerships to ensure steady positive dynamic of mutual trade and reaffirmed mutual interest in expanding cultural and humanitarian links. The Ministers had a substantive exchange of opinions on the regional agenda with focus on the crisis in the Gulf region caused by the US and Israeli aggression against Iran. The parties stressed that the only acceptable option is to resolve the disagreements by political and diplomatic means while considering the legitimate interests of the states involved in the conflict. As concerns the Middle East settlement, Sergey Lavrov and Youssef Rajji confirmed the importance of swift and full implementation of the agreement between Israel and Hamas on Gaza ceasefire and immediate humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of the Palestinian enclave, as well as normalisation of the situation in the West Bank. The Ministers expressed support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. They stressed the importance of consolidating international efforts in the interests of the country’s post-conflict recovery. Sergey Lavrov informed his Lebanese counterpart about the latest developments with respect to the Ukrainian crisis. #RussiaLebanon

RT 'Trump finally spoke the unvarnished truth, the bloody clown wants nothing but war and needs to disappear as soon as possible' — Medvedev says Zelensky's Bandera regime is STUNNED IN SILENCE

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️ — Earlier, several Russian RM-48U ballistic missiles, launched from S-400 launchers, struck Ukraine's capital, Kiev. @IntelSlava

No Ceasefire, Zelensky Panics; Burnham Blames Russia for Brexit; MBS in Bunkers

Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire? Europe/Neocons Turn on Trump

US Ukraine Row Escalates Trump: Zelensky Should Go UK/EU Back Zelensky; Russia Strikes Kiev Blackout

🇮🇷🇷🇺🇧🇾🇰🇿🇹🇯🇺🇿🇦🇿 Iran wants to join the CIS through the "CIS+1" format. Iran has proposed a new format of cooperation to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): "CIS+1". The initiative was presented by President Masoud Pezeshkian during the organization's summit, where he participated for the first time as a special guest. According to him, the new mechanism should serve as a platform for cooperation in the areas of energy, transportation, trade, and technology. Tehran also emphasized that Iran could become one of the routes connecting Central Asia and Eurasia with maritime routes through the ports of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, particularly the port of Chabahar.

🇩🇪 🤡 The "Reichsführer" Merz has also decided to give his opinion on the agreement between the United States and Russia regarding the export of diesel. "For Germany, an agreement of this type between the United States and Russia is unacceptable. We must tighten sanctions against Russia." Merz is the least popular chancellor in German history: only 16% of Germans approve of his leadership. This is hardly surprising: he seems more concerned with pleasing Zelensky than with defending his own citizens. And while he is preoccupied with the Kiev regime, Germans are paying the price with a rapidly declining economy.

Protests in Azerbaijan against Ilham Aliyev's anti-hijab policies

Zelensky on American television blamed Trump for high diesel prices in the US. He claimed that fuel prices are linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, not to Ukrainian strikes on Russia. The crisis affects all Americans: rising diesel costs are driving up transportation costs and retail prices. Amid the upcoming congressional elections, this could hurt Republicans. If they lose their majority, it will be more difficult for Trump to implement his policies. 📢

US President Donald Trump has described the decision to reach an agreement with Russia on diesel fuel supplies as the right choice.

“The European Union paid Russia 250 billion dollars for energy, and the fake news media doesn’t want to get near that story. I made the right choice for the American people,” the US leader wrote on Truth Social.

Vladimir Zelensky risks a conflict with US President Donald Trump by ignoring calls to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, Bloomberg reported. Trump’s verbal attacks could make the situation politically dangerous for Kiev, since Ukraine still depends on US weapons purchases and intelligence sharing.

🇵🇱🇺🇦 “Bandera, get out!” Hundreds of residents in Jarosław, Poland, are demanding that Ukrainians be sent back home after a Ukrainian national killed a priest in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

🛢💵 Western oil giants look to ramp up Iraqi crude output as global economy sputters   Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, BP, TotalEnergies and other Western oil majors have already signed or are looking to ink new contracts with Baghdad that would increase Iraq’s crude output from ~3.5M bpd to 5.5M bpd by 2030. Prime Minister al-Zaidi suggests output could even hit 8-10M bpd after 2035, which would put Iraq roughly on a par with Saudi Arabia and Russia, and mean its potential entry into the world’s top three oil exporters. OPEC’s current production quota for Iraq is ~4.4M bpd, and there are other potential issues, like how to ship the new oil out of the country, given blockades in Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, and overland pipeline plans via neighboring Turkey and Syria that are nowhere close to filling even existing output capacity. There’s also the regional geopolitical instability factor, including pro-Iranian Shia militias in Iraq’s armed forces, the risk of spillover of any new US attack on Iran, especially if oil infrastructure is targeted, and Iraq’s difficult recent history with jihadist Salafists, with much of the country controlled by ISIS just a decade ago. Reporting on Big Oil’s plans, Bloomberg quoted Baron Nathan Rothschild’s “buy to the sound of cannons, sell to the sound of trumpets” aphorism to sum up the industry’s optimistic mood, and hopes by Western investors that current instability will pay off in the future. 👍 Substack | Chat | @geopolitics_prime

🇸🇦🇾🇪 Saudi Arabia has few options left against Houthis After 11 years of failed attempts to contain Yemen's Houthis through military force Riyadh faces increasingly limited options as the group expands its military capabilities, CNN reports. The kingdom's latest offensive, launched in support of Yemeni government forces, has failed to dislodge the Houthis. Instead, they intensified their attacks, striking Riyadh's international airport and killing at least 13 people despite Saudi Arabia's advanced US-made air defenses. Deploying Saudi ground troops risks dragging Riyadh into another costly war, while relying on airstrikes leaves its critical infrastructure vulnerable to Houthi missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia has sought military assistance from France, Britain and Pakistan, but Washington has so far limited its support to intelligence and military advisers. Asked whether the US would join strikes against the Houthis, Trump replied: "We may." 👍 Substack | Chat | @geopolitics_prime

🇵🇰🚨 Pakistan declared a state of emergency in Imran Khan's stronghold region Federal authorities suspended the PTI-led government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and imposed emergency plus governor's rule after President Asif Ali Zardari approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's advice. In accordance with the constitution, governor's rule has been imposed and will run for an initial six months. The official reason is inaction in the fight against terrorism. The federal government cites PTI's failure against militancy and alleged weaponization of state machinery. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the head of the provincial government, provincial PTI president Junaid Akbar, and hundreds of activists were detained, according to reports. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed Afridi's detention. The army has been deployed in 12 districts of KPK province; Peshawar roads were blocked. ❗️The PTI calls the emergency an undemocratic coup to crush protest and seize its last stronghold. According to latest information by PTI leader Gohar Ali the protests will continue. The step followed a large PTI march toward Islamabad demanding the release of Imran Khan (jailed since August 2023 on corruption charges he calls political) and his wife and sisters. The march began after the talks with the government collapsed. 👍 Substack | Chat | @geopolitics_prime