On August 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US presidential candidate Donald Trump held a phone conversation. Official statements indicate coordination of positions on the war front, recent Russian missile strikes, and sanctions against Russia. Zelensky announced a joint draft drone agreement for defense cooperation with the US.
Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with India's decision to keep buying Russian oil and threatened steep tariffs. India is weighing its economic interests while negotiating for even greater discounts from Russia in response to US threats, trying to balance benefits and pressure.
In addition, the US is threatening sanctions and tariffs against Brazil and China for importing Russian energy products. US officials emphasize that such measures aim to reduce Russia’s oil and gas export revenues, which are a significant part of the aggressor’s budget. Despite sanctions, the Russian Finance Ministry has recorded a 19% drop in oil and gas income over the past seven months.
There has also been an escalation on the battlefield: Russian attacks in the Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions have resulted in four deaths. Putin continues to demand recognition of Russian control over four Ukrainian regions and Crimea, offering no concessions or ceasefire prospects.
On the global stage, Russia has declared its exit from the moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles in Europe, increasing the threat for EU nations and the US. Kremlin officials now state there are no restrictions limiting Russia's military actions against the West.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Western partners are preparing new arms packages as part of NATO’s priority assistance. Weapons deliveries are increasing, but the pace and scale remain limited. These developments highlight rising geopolitical tensions around Ukraine, its allies, and global energy security challenges.
