On August 3, the main news topic was the uncertain situation surrounding the visit of US special envoy Steven Vitkov. Russian Telegram channels shared conflicting reports about his presence in Moscow, with no official comment from the Kremlin. The visit signals a willingness for continued US-Russia dialogue, though experts caution against overestimating its significance before official outcomes are announced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Topics included the negotiation track with Russia, preparing a new round of talks, and agreeing on a potential exchange of 100 prisoners. There were no public decisions about the recent corruption scandal or any dismissals among top officials.
NABU director Semen Kryvonos noted that during the law restricting NABU and SAPO independence, the Prosecutor General did not interfere with the investigations, despite having a legal right. Anti-corruption activists have mostly refrained from commenting on the current state of investigative agencies.
Internationally, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that NATO may deploy allied forces in Estonia to counter possible Russian aggression. Additional defensive barriers are being installed at the Narva border crossing with Russia.
Another major topic was China's stated concerns about Starlink satellites being used for military purposes. Media reports that Beijing is considering measures against Starlink due to SpaceX's increasing role in military operations. OPEC+ countries agreed to a fifth consecutive oil production increase starting in September to stabilize the market.
In Belarus, armored vehicles with unusual red markings were seen in the city of Homyel. Officials claim there is currently no military threat from Belarus but continue to monitor the situation.
