The Istanbul peace summit remained the central focus, with Zelensky confirming his Thursday attendance while Putin was conspicuously noncommittal. By midday, Putin escalated rhetoric by calling European leaders planning sanctions "deficient," as Moscow announced Lavrov would attend instead. Trump, who arrived in Saudi Arabia meeting bin Salman, expressed willingness to join the Istanbul talks, later sending Rubio as his representative.

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei area near Naples, the first such strong tremor during daytime hours, causing evacuations of schools and universities and the collapse of a building. Trains were suspended while aftershocks continued.

In France, actor Gérard Depardieu received an 18-month sentence for sexual assault. Meanwhile, German authorities conducted a major operation against the far-right "Citizens of the Reich" group, which allegedly created a "counter-state."

By evening, Macron announced France was "ready to discuss" placing its nuclear deterrent in allied countries.