Recent events in Eastern Europe include statements from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding new US sanctions. According to state news agency RIA, President Putin characterized these sanctions as an "unfriendly act" and an attempt to exert pressure on Russia. He asserted that the sanctions would not affect the Russian economy, though he acknowledged that the energy sector would experience "some losses," while maintaining a "confident" outlook.
Concurrently, Russian engineers have reconnected the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine's external electrical power grid. This action resolved a month-long emergency that had raised concerns about the future operational status of the six-reactor facility.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Russia's frozen assets be utilized by Ukraine for domestic weapons production and for the procurement of European and US weaponry.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/23/russia-sanctions-ukraine-loan-assets-zelenskyy-putin-european-council-latest-news-updates