On September 19, a review of the key events in international politics and the war in Ukraine took place. Highlights include the phone conversation between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, during which progress was noted on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, trade, fentanyl issues, and an agreement on TikTok. This was the first confirmed official call between Trump and Xi since his second inauguration.
The European Union announced a new sanctions package against Russia, targeting its economic and technological capacities. Notably, EU proposals include phasing out Russian liquefied natural gas and tightening controls on sanctions circumvention, especially regarding cryptocurrencies. The package awaits debate in the European Parliament.
Recent days saw increased Russian aviation activity: three fighter jets violated Estonia's NATO airspace, prompting an official protest from Tallinn. Russia also continues to recruit foreign mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, mainly from Middle Eastern countries.
The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council stated that Ukraine maintains only humanitarian talks with Russia, focusing on POW exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers’ remains, while no political negotiations are underway. Ukraine awaits future contacts with Putin, including mediation via Trump.
Experts forecast a rise in Russian strikes on Ukraine—possibly up to 1,000 targets daily by year’s end—highlighting the need for enhanced air defense and more interceptor drones. However, Ukrainian intelligence data suggests Russia's actual drone production remains lower than these projections.
There are visible disagreements among the US, Europe, and China on how the war should end. Western politicians' statements on peace terms for Ukraine remain recommendations without significant changes in Russia’s stance or new negotiation formats.
In Ukraine, support for holding elections before the war's end is growing—one-third of citizens now back the idea if security guarantees are present.
