European Allies Support Ukraine Before Trump-Putin Summit

The leaders emphasized their commitment to the principle that international borders must not be altered by force.
On Friday, Trump announced that a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine would involve “some swapping of territories.” Zelenskyy swiftly rejected this proposal.
Zelenskyy expressed Kyiv’s willingness to collaborate with President Trump, but stressed that decisions

Lo-Reninge (Eurotoday) – On Friday, Aug 8, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Lo-Reninge, employees quickly pushed a burning van away from their building, preventing damage. Firefighters extinguished the blaze; no injuries reported. Fire likely caused by a short circuit.

How did workers’ quick action prevent fire damage in the Lo-Reninge van blaze?How did quick action by warehouse employees prevent a delivery

Dmitriev did not specify the countries, but he made the remarks in response to a post by Dan Caldwell, a former senior adviser to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where Caldwell mentioned expecting a “concerted effort” to undermine the meeting by “forces in Europe and Ukraine who have a vested interest in the war continuing.”
European governments are likely to strongly oppose any deal involvin

Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Gruuthuse Museum in Bruges joins the REFRESH project to study climate change on old buildings. Alderman Nico Blontrock highlights efforts to protect the museum from water damage and humidity.
As VRT News reported, the Gruuthuse Museum in Bruges is taking part in an international project called REFRESH. This project studies how climate change affects old

“People repeatedly told me that while fleeing from Zamzam displacement camp, armed individuals threatened them during their escape, saying, ‘Flee, go to that place, run here, run there, we will follow you, we will find you,’” said Jocelyn Elizabeth Knight, a Protection Officer for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
In a briefing in Geneva, Ms. Knight spoke about meeting a traumatized

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he had a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier on Saturday. The summary of their call noted that both leaders acknowledged the importance of the meeting in Kent as a crucial platform for discussing the progress toward achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been i

Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – St. Andrew’s Church in Antwerp held a prayer for Pride, led by Saskia Van den Kieboom. Transgender woman praised Bishop Johan Bonny for supporting LGBTQ+ rights and church openness.

What role does Antwerp’s St. Andrew’s play in LGBTQ+ church acceptance?What is the future of LGBTQ+ inclusion in European churches?

As VRT News reported, this morning, Aug 9,

Stephanie Loose, Programme Manager in Afghanistan, highlighted significant challenges in Geneva, emphasizing the reintegration of those who lost their homes, assets, and hope.
Afghanistan faces an unprecedented returnee crisis. Since September 2023, about three million Afghans from Pakistan and Iran have been deported or repatriated, with over two million arriving this year. Many returnees lack a

“We are closely monitoring the challenging situation regarding the fires in the Aude department,” stated Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, on the social platform X on Wednesday.
The EU is “prepared to mobilize” resources “if needed,” she added.
Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed that “Europe stands with France as it faces the worst w

The decisions to acknowledge a Palestinian state arise amid increasing international criticism of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the “suffering and starvation” in Gaza as “unspeakable and indefensible.”
In a Thursday interview, Rubio stated that these decisions signaled to Hamas that the group was receiving rewards for its actions. “If I’m