On September 15, the Yalta European Strategy conference took place in Kyiv, organized by Viktor Pinchuk. Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a striking statement, recalling Finland’s loss of 10% of its territory in the past and warning that such a scenario is not excluded for Ukraine, though he expressed hopes to avoid it.
The conference featured several key international remarks. Donald Trump criticized European countries for insufficiently tough anti-Russian sanctions and called for a stop to Russian oil purchases. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Security Service of Ukraine for operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure on the Baltic Sea, stressing that Russia could lose the ability to export oil if the war continues.
Meanwhile, Russia launched nighttime missile and drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense was able to destroy many of the targets, but the number of attacks this year reached a record high, and the effectiveness of interception slightly declined compared to the previous year.
Poland reported successful interception of drones in recent incidents. NATO and Russian representatives exchanged statements on the implications of any direct Western involvement. Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled, and the EU’s 19th sanctions package has yet to be announced.
Beyond Ukraine, Moldova is preparing for parliamentary elections amid allegations of Russian interference; North Korea declared that denuclearization is off the agenda, emphasizing its irreversible nuclear status in response to US demands. Trade negotiations between China and the US, including technology transfers to Russia, remain unresolved.
The review concluded with reflections on the future of Ukraine, the role of the US and EU, and the prospects for effective sanctions against Russia.
