US, Ukrainian, and European officials will meet in the UK this weekend to align their stance ahead of the planned Trump-Putin summit, amid fears Trump could strike a peace deal with Moscow that sidelines allies.

Source: Axios

Kremlin aide Ushakov:

In Alaska and the Arctic, the economic interests of Russia and the US intersect, and prospects for the implementation of large-scale projects are visible.

Kremlin aide Ushakov:

Putin and Trump at the summit in Alaska will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

NEW: Kremlin aide says Moscow expects that the next meeting between Putin and Trump after Alaska will take place in Russia, an invitation has been sent to Trump.

Kremlin aide Ushakov:

Moscow and Washington will dedicate the coming days to active and intense work on the parameters of the meeting in Alaska; it will be a challenging process.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy:

Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting between Trump and Putin.

Azerbaijani FM Bayramov and Turkish FM Fidan discussed the Washington peace agreements, calling them key to regional stability. They also addressed Azerbaijan-Türkiye alliance and international cooperation.

Source: Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry

Zelensky:

The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will retreat from this and no one can. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Zelensky:

Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are simultaneously decisions against peace. They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work.

Burkina Faso: JNIM released footage of its capture of the Soudougui military post in Koulpélogo, seizing weapons and vehicles.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev:

Trump is very knowledgeable about Azerbaijan. Honestly, I was surprised by his knowledge about Azerbaijan. He has an in-depth understanding of many topics.

80 years ago today on August 9, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

The blast killed an estimated 70,000 people by the end of 1945, most of them civilians.

Three days earlier Hiroshima had been bombed.

Six days later Japan announced its surrender, ending World War II.

(Photo: Nagasaki before and after the bombing)

Indian Air Force Chief claims that India shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets in May clashes.

He also claims that India destroyed "one large military aircraft."

Indian Air Force Chief:

Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer.

Those long-range glide bombs that they have, they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system.

Indian Air Force Chief:

It was a high-tech war. In 80 to 90 hours of war, we were able to achieve so much damage that it was clear to them that if they continue, they are going to pay for it more and more.

So they came forward and sent a message that they wanted to talk.

NOTE: No evidence supports India’s claim of downing Pakistani jets, unlike Pakistan’s.

BREAKING: Syrian government has decided to cancel its participation in Paris meetings with the SDF, after the SDF hosted separatist figures in Syria in the Hasakah conference.

Syrian government holds the SDF and its leadership fully responsible for the repercussions of hosting separatist figures.

Source: SANA

South Korea says North Korea has begun dismantling some border loudspeakers in parts of the border area after Seoul did the same.

Sky News found Gaza’s airdrops are dangerous and nearly useless: parachutes failed in half the drops they analysed, killing and injuring civilians, while the aid delivered covers just 7% of the food shortfall.

Trump’s envoy Witkoff may have badly misunderstood Putin in pre-talks for an Alaska “peace summit” on Ukraine.

Russia still demands full control of five Ukrainian regions before stopping its offensive and is offering only limited ceasefires such as no strikes on power plants.

The US instead proposed freezing the war along current lines in exchange for lifting most sanctions, which Moscow rejected.

Witkoff apparently misread a Russian demand for Ukraine to withdraw as a Russian offer to withdraw, causing confusion.

Source: BILD

Only 31% of Germans believe their country has a special responsibility toward Israel because of its Nazi past and the Holocaust, while 62% do not.

Source: Reuters, citing ARD-DeutschlandTREND survey