Two US military aircraft left Bezmer Air Base in Bulgaria on the 22nd, departing earlier than their authorized stay, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said. Stoyanov said the planes conducted no southbound flights while at Bezmer; all training sorties were over western and northwestern allied airspace and Bulgaria has received no information of a direct threat to national security. President Yotova also confirmed the aircraft have left and the mission is over.

French President Macron said on Aug. 22 he spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and that France will further strengthen military support to Ukraine, including supplying interceptor missiles. Macron said France will continue cooperation on air- and missile-defense but did not disclose model, quantity or delivery timing. Zelenskiy said the call lasted nearly two hours; Macron agreed to help Ukraine contact countries that possess Patriot-compatible missiles and to coordinate air‑defense materiel deliveries.

U.S. Trade Representative Greer said the U.S. has proposed cutting tariffs on most Canadian steel products to 25% and reducing aluminum tariffs from 50% to 25%.