Overview

• Zelenskyy described his call with President Trump as productive, focusing on ending the war in Ukraine, imposing stronger sanctions on Russia, and finalizing a US-Ukraine drone procurement agreement.
• Trump warned that Moscow must agree to peace by August 8 or face tougher sanctions and potential 100 percent tariffs on Russian oil imports.
• Ukraine stands ready to finalize a roughly $30 billion deal for domestically produced drones, in tandem with over $1 billion in European weapons commitments to bolster Kyiv’s defense industry.
• US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian leaders in Moscow on Wednesday to press for an immediate ceasefire, reflecting coordinated US-Ukraine mediation efforts.
• Intensified Russian missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure continue to underscore the urgent need for a negotiated truce.