EU Budget Battle: EU leaders opened their Brussels summit divided over the next seven-year budget, with a proposed €141 billion cut facing opposition from cohesion-focused countries and calls from others for deeper savings. They also discussed steps to ease energy costs before winter. Ukraine: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU must increase funding, while leaders backed Kyiv amid growing uncertainty over US support. Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar says accession should be based on merit, warning the path could take 15 to 20 years, even as talks move forward. French Stakes: Marine Le Pen says France can no longer afford large-scale aid to Ukraine and could oppose future EU funding if elected president. Albania: Student-led protests against poor education conditions and alleged government corruption have turned violent in Tirana, with demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama resign; he says he will not step down. EU-Russia Tensions: Slovakia’s Robert Fico plans renewed economic talks with Russia, drawing criticism at a time when the bloc is debating how to sustain pressure on Moscow. Enlargement: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that disputes between neighbours should not block membership, as Croatia presses Montenegro to resolve eight outstanding issues.