On August 20, Donald Trump announced the active preparation for a possible summit between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, the meeting could take place by the end of the month, with venues like Belarus, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary being considered. Belarusian and Austrian authorities have expressed readiness to organize the event, while Switzerland and Austria address the issue of an international warrant for Putin's arrest.
Trump did not rule out sending US air forces to Ukraine to protect its airspace after a possible freezing of the war and pledged not to take vacation until the negotiations are completed. European leaders are reportedly skeptical about Trump's initiative and are preparing for both peace and a potential continuation of the war, considering new sanction packages against Russia and working on security guarantees for Ukraine during meetings in Washington.
Overnight Russian attacks caused injuries in Sumy and Odesa regions, damaging residential buildings and energy and port infrastructure. European leaders have also urged Trump to influence Hungary regarding its support for Ukraine on European integration and assistance. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated his willingness to consider a new round of leaders' talks in Budapest but has not changed his stance regarding Ukraine's EU membership.
This week, the Ukrainian parliament is expected to vote on budget changes totaling nearly 45 billion UAH, with funds planned for reserves, education, healthcare, and digitalization. Meanwhile, the oil market is marked by struggles over energy supply after an attack on the "Druzhba" pipeline. The Russian economy shows a downturn based on surveys by the Russian Central Bank and statistics from Rosstat.
According to Politico and Bloomberg, about 10 countries are considering dispatching troops or air defense to Ukraine. The US is considering support but is not planning to send its own troops. The EU, meanwhile, is preparing its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, expected to be discussed in the coming weeks. It is also reported that Elon Musk paused the creation of a new US political party to preserve relations with the Republican Party.
