French President Emmanuel Macron greets Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, September 3, 2025

Wednesday’s Coverage: Trump “Very Disappointed” in Putin…But Takes No Action

UPDATE 2029 GMT:

The Trump Administration is phasing out security assistance programs for European armies along Russia’s border.

Pentagon officials informed European diplomats last week that the US will no longer fund programs that train and equip militaries in eastern European countries.

Funds approved by Congress are available until the end of September 2026, but the Administration has not requested any more money.

The Baltic Security Initiative, a separate program created in 2020 to support the militaries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, is also threatened. Last year, Congress approved $228 million for the initiative.

A “White House official” said the move fits Donald Trump’s efforts to “re-evaluate and realign” foreign aid.

“This action has been co-ordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the President’s long-standing emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defense,” the official said.

The programs have a global budget of more than $1 billion. The Administration has not informed lawmakers of the amount being phased out.

Officials from dozens of European embassies in Washington, including from countries that do not receive the assistance, were informed at a meeting with Pentagon officials about the cuts.

Surprised by the news, European governments are trying to get further details from the Administration.

UPDATE 1903 GMT:

Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russia is facing a gas shortage.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have dented output. In August, 17% of production was affected.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said signs of the shortages are visible in the Russian Far East.

Putin did not refer to the drone strikes. Instead, he said supply of new enterprises can be challenging, and demand for gas is expected to rise significantly in the far east in coming years.

UPDATE 1829 GMT:

Two civilians have been killed and three injured in a Russian missile attack on a mine clearance project in the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine.

The project is funded by the Danish Refugee Council, whose vehicle was badly damaged. All the victims are Ukrainian citizens.

UPDATE 1820 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted about the call with Donald Trump after the meeting of the 39-country “Coalition of the Willing”:

We talked about how to push the situation toward real peace. We discussed different options, and the most important is pressure, using strong measures, particularly economic ones, to force an end to the war. The key to peace is depriving Russia’s war machine of money, depriving it of resources.

We also spoke about maximum protection for Ukraine’s skies. Until peace comes, Ukrainians must not be at the mercy of constant Russian attacks. Russian missiles and drones must not take lives. Ukraine has proposed a format for protecting our skies for the US to consider.

UPDATE 1503 GMT:

At a press conference alongside Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, France’s Emmanuel Macron has said 26 countries are ready to deploy troops to secure a ceasefire or lasting peace in Ukraine.

Macron said the countries have formally committed to stationing troops, supporting Ukrainian forces, or to maintaining a presence on land, at sea, or in the air. Others are still considering whether to participate, and US involvement will be determined in coming weeks.

Asked about countries who have previously signalled opposition to being part of a deployment, such as Poland and Italy, Macron said there are different roles that can be performed. He did not the specific commitments of individual participants.

Zelensky confirmed countries such as Poland and Italy will be among the guarantors in some fashion.

He emphasized, “Membership in the European Union is a compelling economic, political, and geopolitical security guarantee.”

UPDATE 1426 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported on today’s international meeting in Paris:

We discussed in detail each country’s readiness to make a contribution to ensuring security on land, at sea, in the air, and in cyberspace. We coordinated positions and reviewed elements of security guarantees. I am grateful to everyone for understanding that the main security guarantee is a strong Ukrainian army.

We share the same view that Russia is making every effort to drag out the negotiation process and prolong the war. Support for Ukraine must be increased and pressure on Russia must be intensified. Preparations for the 19th EU sanctions package are underway. Japan is also working on sanctions measures.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the Coalition of the Willing’s message remains that Ukraine is on the side of peace, and Russia must be called out as the aggressor, “acting with the consent of many of its partners around the world” as it stalls over talks to ends its invasion.

He spoke about the process led by defense chiefs and planners for security guarantees: “The key argument here is that there are no limitations for the defense of Ukraine.”

Multiple countries are ready to be involved “on land, in the sea or in the air” to “reassure the people of Ukraine and maintain the ceasefire once it’s implemented, and maintain and guarantee peace,” he asserted.

European leaders are seeing a series of meetings – first between Zelensky and Putin, and later in another format – to end the invasion: “If Moscow doesn’t want to respect these conditions, we will have to take further steps with the US.”

The White House said that, in a call after the meeting, Donald Trump called on Europe to stop purchasing Russian oil and to put more economic pressure on China.

Finland President Alexander Stubb said:

Trump’s approach was very much that we must act together on sanctions policy and now look for ways in particular to halt Russia’s war machine by economic means.

In that case there are two targets, namely oil and gas. The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President Trump’s close advisors will discuss this over the next 24 hours.

UPDATE 0945 GMT:

At least 15 civilians have been killed and 26 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours.

Air defenses downed 84 of 112 drones launched by Russia overnight. The other 28 drones struck 17 locations.

In the Donetsk region in the east, 11 civilians were murdered and 16 injured. Nine of the fatalities were in Kostiantynivka (see 0654 GMT).

In the neighboring Kharkiv region, one person was slain and six wounded amid attacks on Kharkiv city and 11 settlements.

Two civilians were killed and two injured in the Kherson region in the south. In the Dnipropetrovsk region in south-central Ukraine, Oblast, a man was killed and a 49-year-old woman injured.

Casualties were also recorded in the Sumy region.

UPDATE 0933 GMT:

In remarks at the IISS Prague Defense Summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has put Russia’s invasion of Ukraine within a broader context of the threats to European and global security.

Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is the most obvious example of that threat. But the threat will not end when this war does, nor is the challenge limited to Russia. China, Iran, and North Korea pose challenges individually and as a result of their cooperation. Only look at the pictures from Beijing the last couple of days and the hand holding.

They are increasing their defense industrial collaboration to unprecedented levels. They are preparing for long term confrontation. And as I said earlier, the challenges we face are lasting. So we must be prepared.

Rutte assured that NATO is focused on defense:

Some may worry about a new arms race, but our own aim, I can tell you, is not to provoke. Our aim is to protect and to ensure that we can continue to enjoy the freedom and security that we all hold so dear, the freedom and security that NATO was founded to preserve.

He emphasized, “Russia is and for the foreseeable future, will remain, a destabilizing and confrontational force in Europe and the world.”

The NATO head addressed the Kremlin’s rejection of European deployment in Ukraine.

Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide….

Russia has nothing to do with this….Ukraine is a sovereign nation. If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support the peace deal, it’s up to them. Nobody else can decide about it.

I think we really have to stop making Putin too powerful.

UPDATE 0725 GMT:

Canada is joining the European Union and the UK in lowering the price cap for seaborne Russian oil exports from $60 per barrel to $47.60.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the measure over Russia’s oil revenues on Wednesday.

“By aligning with our partners and adapting to market conditions, we are reinforcing our commitment to Ukraine and to international peace and security,” Anand said.

The Trump Administration, citing its discussions with Russia, has balked at tightening the cap.

UPDATE 0701 GMT:

Russia has continued to sentence Ukrainian prisoners of war to lengthy terms.

On Wednesday, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office announced the condemnation of four POWs for “sabotage and reconnaissance operations” against military and industrial facilities within Russia.

Lt. Col. Andrii Antonenko was given a 28-year sentence and fined 2 million rubles (around $24,695). Capt. Andrii Kulish and Sgt. Oleksii Mazurenko were punished with 26 years, and Jr. Lt. Denis Tkachenko with 27.

The four men were captured in the Bryansk region in western Russia.

The POWs told the court that they were defending Ukraine and following the orders of commanding officers. They stressed that not a single Russian, military or civilian, was harmed.

Antonenko said:

I do not consider myself a terrorist and do not agree with the accusations that have been brought against me.

“I do not know how my future fate and life will turn out, but I have such a deep personal feeling that this is still some kind of cosplay of justice.”

UPDATE 0654 GMT:

The toll has risen to nine civilians murdered and seven wounded by Russian attacks on Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday.

The Russians launched drones and fired artillery shells. Victims were slain at home, on the street, inside a store, and in their cars. A residential house, apartment buildings, a store, and several shopping pavilions were damaged.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss security guarantees and further support against Russia’s 42-month full-scale invasion.

Zelensky attended the Ukraine-Nordic-Baltic summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday before travelling to the French capital.

Alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, he spoke about the need for air defense assets and further support via the PURL program, in which NATO allies buy US weapons and transfer them to Ukraine.

He emphasized the necessity of reliable security guarantees with the US “on our side in this crucial period”, noting that the American have the most advance air defense systems.

He also noted the importance of further sanctions on Russia, with no sign of Vladimir Putin halting attacks more than two weeks after his meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said the leaders are building on preparatory work by military planners, with Europe “ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine and the Ukrainians” once Russia’s invasion is halted.

“The question now is to determine the sincerity of Russia and its successive commitments on peace talks made to the US,” he said.

The European Union’s foreign policy head Kaja Kallas said at a press conference:

It is clear that Russia shows no real wish to end this war.

For Europe, this can only mean one thing: more military, diplomatic, and economic support for Ukraine. In the event of a truce, a strong Ukrainian military is the strongest security guarantee there is.

Moscow maintained its ultimata for a weak and demilitarized Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova declared, “Russia does not intend to discuss foreign intervention in Ukraine, which is fundamentally unacceptable and undermines all security, in any form or format.”

Zelensky responded to the Kremlin’s demand for a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east:

If, tomorrow, we somehow left Donbas, which will not happen, we would open up an unprotected space for Putin, near a city of one and a half million inhabitants: Kharkiv. He would also seize the industrial center of Dnipro.

One thing is certain, we have not lost. We must look at the situation clearly: the second-largest army in the world has come to annihilate us, our history, and our identity. And this is not their first attempt. Several times in history, the Russian Empire has struck blows at the independence of our people.