AnewZ Morning Brief - 20th August, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome to discuss weapons, air defence, and sanctions ahead of an international conference on Ukraine's recovery.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a "substantive" meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Rome on Wednesday. The talks followed Trump's pledge to send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said they discussed strengthening air defences amid intensified Russian attacks, the purchase of American weapons, and joint defence production in Ukraine.
The leaders also addressed expanding sanctions on Russia, including secondary sanctions targeting buyers of Russian oil. Zelenskyy expressed support for a bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress, saying it could pressure Moscow toward peace.
The meeting comes ahead of the 10-11 July Rome conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction, estimated to cost €500 billion ($585 billion), according to Italian officials citing World Bank data.
Separately, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo at Castel Gandolfo. The Pope offered the Vatican as a venue for potential Russia-Ukraine peace talks — their second meeting in two months.
Italy confirmed that Kellogg would attend Thursday’s meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, marking the first U.S. participation in the European-led pro-Ukraine group.
Ukraine has also requested more Patriot missile systems from the U.S., while Germany said it is in talks to supply additional air defence systems.
The Rome conference will be opened by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Zelenskyy, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Leaders from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Greece are also expected to attend.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The White House debuted on TikTok on 20 August with a pro-Trump video, entering the platform even as its future in the U.S. remains uncertain under a looming 17 September deadline.
A Russian drone strike on the city of Okhtyrka in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast injured 12 people, including two children, according to local authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had ruled out putting U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine, but said the United States might provide air support as part of a deal to end Russia's war in the country.
Russia offered “almost immediate” concessions during last week’s Alaska summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump, a U.S. envoy has said, signalling momentum towards a potential peace deal in Ukraine.
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