The war remains at the center of global attention, prompting the U.S. and NATO to reevaluate their support for Kyiv. Zelenskyy announced a new prisoner exchange, while Trump issued another statement addressed to the Kremlin. Amid new Russian strikes on Mykolaiv and reports of explosions in Sochi and Voronezh, world diplomacy is shifting towards harsher measures.
The U.S. and NATO are preparing a new weapons mechanism for Ukraine
They are developing a new system to finance the supply of weapons to Ukraine that involves using Alliance countries' funds to pay for American weapons. According to Reuters, Ukraine will use this mechanism to form priority weapons lists (PURLs) in tranches of about $500 million. The NATO Secretary General will coordinate which countries pay for or provide the necessary weapons. This will eliminate bureaucratic red tape, simplifying and accelerating the process of sales and purchases.
The goal is to collect at least $10 billion in aid. "This is a starting point, and it is an ambitious goal that we are working towards," said a European official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The proposed format is a voluntary initiative, but every NATO country is encouraged to participate. According to sources, negotiations for the first tranche are already underway, but it is not yet known whether any funds have been received. The United States also expects its allies to pay for the accelerated replenishment of weapons stocks.
Trump explained the deployment of nuclear submarines
US President Donald Trump reaffirmed, that his decision to deploy nuclear submarines was in response to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's rhetoric. "We had to do it. We just have to be careful," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House. According to Trump, his goal is to protect Americans from potential threats. He emphasized that the Kremlin’s actions were perceived as an "inappropriate threat," so the response had to be clear.
When asked if he planned to speak with Putin before the 10-day ultimatum expired, Trump replied, "We'll see what happens. We’ll have a few meetings, and we’ll see what happens.” Note that the U.S. ultimatum on peace talks ends on August 8. Pressure on Russia is increasing in Washington due to the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
Agreement on the exchange of 1,200 prisoners: Zelensky on negotiations with Russia
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that an agreement had been reached with Russia to exchange another 1,200 prisoners. According to Zelensky, work is underway to coordinate the lists. During the meeting with the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, the return of Ukrainian civilians and children taken to Russia was also discussed. Yermak discussed contacts with partners, particularly the United States, as part of these efforts.
The meeting also addressed topics that will be considered at the next Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters meeting. These include preparing energy and critical infrastructure for winter, developing air defense systems, and striking Russian logistics centers. For reference, the last round of peace talks took place in Istanbul on July 23 but did not result in a breakthrough on a ceasefire.
Drone Attack on Sochi: Fire at Oil Depot and Airport Shutdown
On the night of August 3, Sochi and the surrounding areas were hit by a large-scale drone attack. One of the drones hit a fuel tank at an oil depot in Adler, causing a massive fire. Dozens of explosions were heard in the sky over the city, prompting the deployment of Russian air defense systems. According to local authorities, there were no casualties, only damage.
The strike on the oil depot led to delays in Sochi Airport operations — the city implemented "Carpet" mode, redirecting or diverting several flights while they waited to land. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of 93 Ukrainian drones in various regions. Meanwhile, explosions and new damage were reported in Voronezh.
Seven people were injured in Mykolaiv as a result of the Russian missile strike
At least seven people were injured in the Russian missile strike on Mykolaiv, two of whom were hospitalized, also reported the head of the OVA Vitaly Kim. The strike destroyed or damaged dozens of civilian infrastructure - in particular, 23 private houses, 12 apartment buildings and a post office. Photos from the scene show completely destroyed buildings and rubble at the sites of the strike. Reuters was unable to independently confirm this data.
The Ukrainian military said that, on the same day, the Russian Federation attacked eight regions simultaneously, launching 76 drones and seven missiles, 60 of which and one missile were destroyed. In addition to Mykolaiv, at least three people were killed and more than twelve were injured in shelling attacks in the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. A short-term rocket attack was recorded in Kyiv, resulting in no casualties. Although the front line has stabilized, shelling remains a regular threat to the civilian population.
Author: Danylo Pievchev