Geopolitical and Diplomatic Events

Ukraine and Russia:

There's a notable development with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15th to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. This comes as European leaders are rallying behind Ukraine ahead of the meeting. Russia has also continued to launch strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.

Israel and Gaza:

The situation in Gaza remains critical. Israel's Security Cabinet has approved a plan for the Israeli military to take control of Gaza City with the stated goal of defeating Hamas, and they are massing troops and tanks on the border. In response to this, Germany has announced it will halt weapon shipments to Israel that could be used in Gaza. A crowd surge at an aid site has also resulted in multiple Palestinian casualties. Australia has also announced it will recognize a Palestinian state.

Other Conflicts:

The Kivu conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is escalating, with a UN official reporting that M23 rebels have killed over 300 civilians in July. The Sudanese civil war and other regional conflicts also continue.