The European leaders have issued a statement emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Council President Antonio Costa signing off on it. The statement calls for "ironclad" security guarantees for Ukraine, allowing it to make decisions about its own territory without external interference. It also vows to continue supporting Ukraine while maintaining pressure on Russia through strengthened sanctions until a just and lasting peace is achieved.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has described Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'problem' due to his government's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, calling the humanitarian situation 'absolutely appalling and catastrophic'. She plans to apply pressure on Israel through political means, including sanctions, targeting settlers, ministers, or even the country itself, amid over 1,200 civilian deaths from an October 2023 attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory offensive that has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Frederiksen also criticized Israel's plan to build settlements in the occupied West Bank, which she believes would violate international law and undermine a two-state solution.
British MP Imran Khan has resigned as Trade Envoy for Türkiye, citing a personal visit to Northern Cyprus as the reason for his departure from the role. Khan claimed his visit was not in his capacity as trade envoy but felt it best to step aside to avoid jeopardizing ongoing trade negotiations. British Shadow Foreign Minister Wendy Morton criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not sacking Khan earlier, while the situation highlights the complexities of Cyprus, which is divided between a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north recognized only by Turkey.
India and the US aim to double their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. The US has imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods since August 7, with an additional 25% penalty set to come into effect from August 27 for buying crude oil and military equipment from Russia. Despite this, India's exports to the US have seen positive growth, increasing 21.64% to $33.53 billion in April-July, while imports rose 12.33% to $17.41 billion.
India's talks with the US on a bilateral trade agreement have become uncertain due to the scheduled imposition of additional 25% secondary sanctions on India around August 27. Despite this, senior government officials stated that India remains "fully engaged" with Washington, with discussions taking place across multiple levels, including formal negotiating teams and ministerial channels. The next round of talks, originally set for August 25 in New Delhi, is expected to provide clarity closer to the date, while reaffirming a September-October deadline for finalizing the first tranche of the agreement.
The UN human rights office reported that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since May 27, with most killings attributed to the Israeli military. The number of deaths has increased significantly from the previous figure of 1,373 reported on August 1. On Friday alone, at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire, including 12 waiting for humanitarian aid.
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a baby girl and her parents, Motasem al-Batta, his wife, and the girl, in their tent in the crowded Muwasi area. The strike occurred as temperatures soared above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with neighbors expressing frustration over 22 months of war. Families of hostages are calling for a "nationwide day of stoppage" in Israel to protest the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in 1,760 deaths while seeking aid and 251 malnutrition-related deaths. The United Nations warns that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began, with contaminated water and diseases spreading among Palestinians.
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to continue supporting Ukraine until Russian President Putin stops his "barbaric assault." Macron emphasized the need for lessons learned from past experiences, particularly Russia's history of failing to keep its commitments. He expressed unity and responsibility with US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy to preserve interests. Italy is also standing by Ukraine's side, while European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen stressed the importance of strong security guarantees for a just and lasting peace. EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas believes the US holds significant power to force Russia to negotiate seriously, ensuring that any peace is sustainable.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed foreign policy and humanitarian crises with South Sudan officials, including a recent meeting with Kumba, while also stating that Israel is exploring options with several countries for Palestinian refugees from Gaza to relocate.