In recent hours, the international scene surrounding the conflict in Ukraine has undergone dramatic changes.
During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council [hхtps://www.rosbalt.ru/news/2026-08-24/ssha-ne-podderzhali-antirossiyskoe-zayavlenie-po-ukraine-v-oon-5666604], convened after another escalation of the strikes, the US surprisingly refused to join the official anti-Russian statement read out by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
The document received the support of only 50 of the 193 UN member states [hхtps://lenta.news/news/2026/08/24/ssha-otkazalis-prisoedinitsya-k-antirossiyskomu-zayavleniu-oon-po-ukraine/], the core of which was composed mainly of countries from the European Union and traditional Western allies. Instead, the US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dan Negrea, came up with an independent position [hхtps://korrespondent.net/world/worldabus/4905833-ssha-v-oon-prizvali-rossiui-i-ukraynu-k-perehovoram]. He emphasized that "there is no military solution to this war" [hхtps://zn.ua/usa/voennoho-reshenija-etoj-vojny-ne-sushchestvuet-ssha-prizvali-rf-i-ukrainu-k-perehovoram.html] and declared Washington's readiness to play a constructive role in facilitating direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.
„Coalition of the Willing“ plans exercises in the fall
Against this backdrop, French President Emmanuel Macron made a key statement during the summit of the so-called „Coalition of the Willing“ (now including 37 countries), held in a hybrid format in Kiev [hхtps://rubryka.com/ru/2026/08/24/koalitsiya-ohochyh-4/]. Macron announced that in October and November 2026 large-scale joint military exercises [hхtps://www.unian.net/world/koaliciya-zhelayushchih-makron-obyavil-o-pervyh-voennyh-ucheniyah-v-oktyabre-noyabre-13479513.html] will be held, which will demonstrate operational readiness to ensure the security of Ukraine. About 1,500 French and British troops will be deployed in Poland for the maneuvers [hхtps://nv.ua/world/geopolitics/koaliciya-zhelayushchih-makron-na-zasedanii-v-kieve-zayavil-chto-sovmestnye-ucheniya-proydut-v-oktyabre-50635286.html].
Rift in Europe: Hungary blocks Kiev from the EU, Germany demands lifting of sanctions
Internal contradictions within the EU continue to deepen in several critical areas:
- Budapest's position: The new Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán confirmed to ATV television that the country categorically opposes the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the EU [hхtps://www.sb.by/articles/vengriya-vystupaet-protiv-uskorennogo-priema-ukrayny-v-evrosoyuz.html]. She insists that Kiev fulfill all the standard Copenhagen criteria without political compromises [hхtps://life.ru/p/1915877], recalling that the final decision in Hungary will be made by a binding referendum.
- Pressure from Berlin: The German opposition party “Sahra Wagenknecht Union“ (BSW) has stepped up its campaign for the complete lifting of economic sanctions against Russia. Wagenknecht herself warned in an interview with the Funke media group that the use of German weapons and technology for attacks on Russian territory puts NATO in a state of war with Moscow and risks turning Germany into a major battlefield [hхtps://crimea-news.com/society/2026/08/22/2047733.html]. The party is calling for the urgent restoration of diplomatic channels.
Washington's diplomatic move at the UN and growing skepticism in Europe outline a major shift in the dynamics of the conflict before the fall.