Three days before the planned Alaska meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, European leaders have issued a warning against any attempt to redraw Ukraine’s borders through military action.

In their joint declaration, the leaders stated that “the people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future” and stressed that “territorial integrity” must be upheld while “international borders must not be changed by force”.

Of the 27 EU member states, 26 signed the statement. Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, did not add his name, consistent with his ongoing alignment with Moscow and repeated attempts to stall EU assistance to Kyiv.

The move reflects Europe’s deep anxiety over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, especially among states that share a border with Russia or still recall Soviet occupation. In recent years, Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, the Baltic states have reinstated mandatory military service, and Poland has committed vast funds to building a barrier along its Russian frontier.

European governments fear Washington could permit border changes in Ukraine, something they see as unacceptable. Official recognition of Russia’s authority over seized territories would directly clash with EU principles.

Trump has previously said that “some swapping of territories” might be part of a peace plan, potentially leaving all of the Donbas and Crimea in Russian hands, while Moscow would cede the partially occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Last week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged the likelihood of continued Russian control over some Ukrainian territory but insisted that this should never receive formal recognition. Changing Ukraine’s constitution to legally confirm such control would require a referendum approved by parliament — a process that could topple President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.

This is why, as analyst Prof Mark Galeotti explained, “no-one is talking about international formal recognition”. He added, “We would be recognising that for the moment Russia does control almost 20% of Ukraine but international borders remain what they are,” suggesting Zelensky might accept de facto Russian control without altering the constitution.

The joint statement also warned that “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security” and emphasised the importance of achieving a “just and lasting peace”. Leaders underlined the need for Ukraine to “defend itself effectively” and vowed ongoing military assistance as it exercises “its inherent right of self defence”.

“The European Union underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and will continue supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU membership,” the declaration concluded.

Hungary’s absence from the list of signatories was highlighted in a note at the bottom of the statement. Orban later said on social media that he refused to back it because it set conditions for a meeting to which the EU had not been invited, cautioning fellow leaders against “providing instructions from the bench”. He also called for the EU to arrange its own negotiations with Russia — something Brussels has avoided since the 2022 invasion began.

Trump said on Monday that he had asked Orban for his opinion on Ukraine’s chances in the war. “He looked at me like, ‘What a stupid question’,” Trump said, implying Orban believed Russia would fight until it claimed victory.

The Trump-Putin summit is scheduled for Friday, while Trump is due to speak with EU leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, on Wednesday. Starmer has said that any peace must be “built with Ukraine, not imposed upon it”.

European officials hope to use the talks to reinforce Ukraine’s priorities and European security interests, amid concerns that a future settlement could be neither “just” nor “lasting”.

Chinese factories are feeling the strain from escalating U.S. tariffs, pushing owners to adopt drastic cost-cutting measures. In Foshan, kitchen cabinet manufacturer Mike Chai has reduced wages by nearly 30%, shortened worker shifts, and placed employees on unpaid leave to keep operations running. His workforce has already been cut in half since the pandemic, now standing at about 100.

Many manufacturers are relying more on temporary labor to avoid long-term obligations such as pensions and insurance. This shift has increased underemployment and weakened consumer confidence, even as official unemployment figures appear steady.

Exports to the U.S. dropped by more than 21% in July, while shipments to markets in Australia and Southeast Asia rose sharply, showing a pivot in trade routes. Wage cuts and shrinking job opportunities are hitting rural migrant workers hardest. Meanwhile, inflation in retail sales has flatlined, adding to the deflationary pressure across the economy.

Nine Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in a coordinated militant assault on security installations in Balochistan’s Washuk district on Monday, officials confirmed. The attack occurred just hours after the United States formally designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as a foreign terrorist organisation, upgrading its previous classification as a “specially designated global terrorist” group.

The BLA, long active in the mineral-rich but volatile southwestern province, has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks in recent years, although no group has yet taken responsibility for Monday’s assault.

According to local authorities, dozens of armed militants on motorbikes stormed both a police station and a Frontier Corps compound in Basima city, hurling grenades, ransacking the premises, and engaging security forces in a fierce exchange of gunfire. The soldiers killed were reportedly en route to respond to the initial attack when they were ambushed. The incident also left several other soldiers injured, deepening concerns about the security situation in a province already marked by insurgency and separatist violence.

How Did The Attack Start?

Officials say the violence began when 40–50 militants launched simultaneous strikes on key government facilities in Basima. First targeting a police station, the attackers then moved to the Frontier Corps compound, using hand grenades and heavy gunfire. The military personnel who later responded to the call for backup were intercepted by the militants, resulting in the deaths of nine soldiers.

Were There Other Casualties?

Beyond the nine fatalities, six soldiers sustained injuries during the confrontation, according to provincial authorities. While there are no official reports of civilian deaths, damage to government property and the ransacking of offices have been confirmed.

What Is The Government Saying?

Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior provincial officials described the incident as a “coordinated terrorist assault” and linked it to separatist elements in the region. Although the BLA has not claimed responsibility, the attack bears similarities to previous operations attributed to the group. Officials have pledged to intensify counterterrorism operations in Balochistan and have stressed the need for enhanced intelligence sharing to prevent future attacks.

What Next?

The attack has reignited calls for stronger military presence in the province and greater cooperation between local and federal security agencies. The fresh U.S. designation of the BLA as a foreign terrorist organisation may pave the way for broader international counterterrorism support to Pakistan, including intelligence cooperation and financial sanctions targeting the group’s networks. Meanwhile, residents of Washuk district remain on high alert as security forces conduct combing operations in search of the attackers.

President Donald Trump has rolled out a new trade policy that imposes tariffs on Nigeria and 66 other countries as part of a major shift in U.S. import regulations.

Under the new measure, Nigeria will face a 15% tariff rate, alongside other African nations such as Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Botswana, Namibia, and Uganda, which have also been assigned the same percentage. South Africa, Algeria, and Libya face higher tariffs of 30% each.

The new tariff structure introduces a blanket 10% import duty on all goods entering the United States, with specific countries and product categories facing steeper charges. China has been hit with a 30% tariff, along with additional product-specific duties. Brazil faces a 50% tariff, though certain industries like aircraft and energy may benefit from lower rates. Canada, India, and other countries also face tailored tariffs, with India seeing a 25% rate that could increase by another 25% from August 28.

Critics have warned that the policy could disrupt global trade, increase consumer prices, and trigger retaliatory measures from affected countries, while trade experts caution that disputes could arise at the World Trade Organization.