NATO will put drone strikes in the Black Sea on its agenda at a meeting next week, officials said Thursday, following two new attacks and the disappearance of seven people. Incidents involving civilian vessels in the Black Sea have been on the rise off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania in a suspected spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police for the third consecutive day on Thursday in Albania, with Prime Minister Edi Rama condemning the “chaos” that caused damage to government buildings. Thousands of protesters are calling for Rama's resignation and better studying conditions for Albanian students.

Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of Russia's independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was detained and taken for questioning on Thursday after authorities searched his home, the newspaper said.

Far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said on Wednesday that France could no longer afford to fund Ukraine, citing the country's high deficit and weak economic growth.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged EU leaders on Thursday to reach a deal on the bloc’s nearly €2 trillion budget by Christmas, warning that elections in France and other European countries in 2027 could leave little room for compromise as divisions deepen over spending priorities and funding.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels Thursday to rally support at a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte the same day, and a summit with EU leaders to follow Friday. Earlier, Zelensky asked the United States not to stand with Moscow and called for "honesty" after Kyiv said it had been betrayed by Washington's intelligence-sharing gaps. Follow our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.

Anti-government protests in Albania’s capital Tirana turned violent for a second consecutive night on Wednesday, leaving several government buildings damaged and at least one ablaze. As thousands demanded improved university conditions and the government's resignation, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he would not step down.