Morning Brief: Qatar Advances Peace Talks Between Congo and M23 Militia; European Leaders Press Trump for Ukraine Security Guarantees

· Guy D. McCardle

Draft peace agreement shared with DR Congo and M23 as deadline nears. (@qatar_fr/X)

Good morning. It’s Monday, August 18, 2025. Start your week with the latest: Qatar pushes peace talks in Congo, Syria blames Israel for unrest, Serbia riots escalate, Amnesty International accuses Israel of deliberate starvation in Gaza, Zelenskyy and European Union leaders press Trump for Ukraine security guarantees, the US and South Korea kick off joint drills, and Jimmy Lai’s Hong Kong trial nears its end.

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Qatar Advances Peace Talks Between DRC and M23 Militia as Fighting Continues

Qatar shared a draft peace agreement on Sunday with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 militia as part of the ongoing Doha mediation process.

The draft follows a July 19 declaration of principles signed by both parties in Qatar, which aimed for a formal peace deal by August 18. That deadline passed, but both sides remain engaged and willing to negotiate, according to a Qatari official involved in the talks.

Doha is set to host another key round of negotiations soon.

The Qatari mediator acknowledged the complexities on the ground but urged continued dialogue and commitment to end the conflict.

M23, backed by Rwanda, resumed hostilities in late 2021 and has since taken control of large areas in eastern DRC. The group escalated its offensive earlier this year by capturing Goma and Bukavu, where it installed its own administrations. The offensive has deepened an already critical humanitarian crisis in the region.

 

Syrian President Rejects Partition, Accuses Israel of Fueling Unrest in South

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa dismissed any prospects of partitioning Syria and emphasized the need to reunify the country through dialogue rather than force.

Speaking during a recent session with local leaders from Idlib and other provinces, Sharaa said Syria is “tired of war” and warned against foreign-backed efforts to fragment the nation.

His comments follow violent clashes in the southern Druze-majority Sweida province, where recent sectarian fighting between Druze and Sunni Bedouin groups escalated into broader conflict involving government forces and Israeli airstrikes. Demonstrators in Sweida denounced the violence and called for self-determination, with some waving Israeli flags.

Sharaa accused Israel of direct interference aimed at destabilizing the region and weakening the Syrian state.

Rights observers and Druze factions accused Syrian forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses, including summary executions.

Sharaa acknowledged violations by multiple parties, including Syrian troops, and said all perpetrators must be held accountable regardless of affiliation.

Sharaa also addressed ongoing talks with the Kurdish-led administration in the north and northeast. He confirmed discussions on implementing a March 10 agreement to reintegrate Kurdish civil and military structures into the state, though progress remains stalled due to unresolved differences.

 

Vucic Threatens Crackdown After Days of Anti-Government Riots Across Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday vowed a tough response to ongoing anti-government protests that escalated into street riots over the past week.

Labeling the demonstrators as “terrorists,” Vucic accused Western powers of orchestrating the unrest to destabilize Serbia and warned that further violence could lead to fatalities if not swiftly contained.

Despite his threats, thousands continued to protest in Belgrade and other cities, demanding the release of detained demonstrators and chanting “Arrest Vucic.”

The protests, initially sparked by a deadly train station collapse blamed on government corruption, have grown into a broader backlash against Vucic’s increasingly authoritarian leadership.

Saturday night saw major clashes, with protesters setting fire to Serbian Progressive Party offices and fighting riot police in multiple cities. Police responded with tear gas, while demonstrators threw flares, bottles, and stun grenades. Authorities have been accused of excessive force and arbitrary arrests.

Vucic, speaking on national television, promised decisive state action within the week but ruled out a formal state of emergency. He insisted Serbia is under threat from “anarcho-leftist” forces and praised Russian support against what he described as an attempted “colored revolution.”

The unrest caps more than nine months of demonstrations against Vucic’s government, which critics accuse of enabling corruption, silencing dissent, and undermining democracy.

Serbia remains a European Union candidate but continues to foster close ties with Russia and China.

 

Amnesty Accuses Israel of Deliberate Starvation Policy in Gaza as Famine Worsens

Amnesty International accused Israel on Monday of pursuing a deliberate starvation campaign in Gaza, stating that the Israeli government has systematically destroyed conditions essential to Palestinian life.

The report, based on interviews with displaced Gazans and medical staff, claims Israel has created life-threatening conditions designed to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians—part of what Amnesty calls an “ongoing genocide.”

Amnesty cited testimonies from 19 displaced civilians in camps and two medical professionals treating malnourished children.

The report alleges Israel has enacted policies over the past 22 months to restrict aid and basic needs, contributing to widespread hunger and medical collapse.

Israel rejected similar accusations in the past and has not yet commented on this latest report.

The Israeli defense ministry’s COGAT office recently denied claims of mass malnutrition in Gaza, disputing casualty figures released by the Hamas-run health ministry.

On Sunday, Gaza’s health ministry reported that two children and five adults died from starvation-related causes. The United Nations warned that famine conditions are worsening, and malnutrition is at its highest since the war began.

Separately, Gaza hospitals and witnesses reported that Israeli forces killed 17 Palestinians on Sunday, including nine waiting for humanitarian aid near the Morag corridor. A witness said Israeli snipers opened fire to disperse crowds awaiting UN aid trucks.

Meanwhile, an Israeli minister announced a new settlement plan aimed at permanently blocking any future Palestinian statehood.

 

Zelenskyy, European Leaders Press Trump for Ukraine Security Guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington Monday with top European leaders to pressure US President Donald Trump for firm security guarantees against Russian aggression.

The high-level diplomatic show of unity comes days after Trump’s closed-door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which excluded Ukraine and its European allies.

Zelenskyy is joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Their goal is to secure NATO-style defense commitments for Ukraine without full NATO membership, a red line for Putin.

The talks follow Trump’s vague remarks after the Putin summit and his social media post suggesting Zelenskyy could end the war immediately “if he wants to.”

Trump also stated there would be “no going into NATO by Ukraine,” reinforcing Putin’s key demand.

Zelenskyy responded by calling for a durable peace and warning against repeating the mistakes of 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed discussions would focus on enforceable security guarantees, though Trump now says a ceasefire is not a precondition for peace talks.

European leaders, concerned by Putin’s continued push for control over Donbas, aim to lock in US support and prevent concessions that would weaken Ukraine’s position or European security.

Zelenskyy faces pressure to avoid appearing as the obstacle to peace while resisting territorial concessions he deems unconstitutional.

A trilateral summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy is reportedly under consideration.

Trump’s team claims progress from the Alaska summit, while European allies continue to align with the US, agreeing in July to increase weapons purchases for Ukraine.

Macron warned that showing weakness now would invite future conflicts, urging the West to maintain pressure on Moscow.

 

US and South Korea Launch Joint Ulchi Freedom Shield Drills

South Korea and the United States began their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise on Monday, involving 21,000 troops and aimed at strengthening joint readiness against threats from North Korea.

The 11-day exercise, which includes computer-based command operations and field training, comes as Pyongyang warns it will respond to any perceived provocation.

North Korea condemned the drills as evidence of hostile intent and reiterated its stance that such exercises are rehearsals for invasion. Defense Minister No Kwang Chol pledged that North Korean forces stand ready to retaliate if provoked.

The South’s Defense Ministry confirmed it will not suspend live-fire exercises near the disputed maritime border.

The drills coincide with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to ease tensions ahead of his August 25 summit with US President Donald Trump. Lee has called for restoring the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement suspended in 2024 and urged North Korea to return to talks.

North Korea, meanwhile, has deepened military ties with Russia and accelerated its weapons program.

The Lee administration also launched a parallel four-day civil defense drill involving thousands of government workers. While about half of Ulchi Freedom Shield’s field training has been delayed to September, US officials said the postponement was due to weather-related damage and not diplomatic overtures.

The exercise unfolds amid uncertainty over the future of the US-South Korea alliance. Trump has repeatedly pushed for Seoul to pay more for hosting US forces and may seek to scale back the American military presence.

US officials, including Gen. Xavier Brunson, emphasize the need to modernize the alliance in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats and China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

 

Jimmy Lai’s National Security Trial Nears End as Hong Kong Prosecutors Push for Conviction

A Hong Kong court heard final arguments Monday in the national security trial of 77-year-old Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.

Lai faces charges of colluding with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious material under Beijing’s national security law. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence.

Lai was arrested in 2020 following the 2019 protests and is accused of calling on foreign governments, particularly the US, to impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials. Prosecutors argue this constituted a violation of the security law.

Lai denied actively seeking sanctions after the law took effect on June 30, 2020, though he admitted he may have discussed sanctions with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The trial, which has lasted nearly 150 days, has drawn international attention as a test of press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong. It has faced delays due to weather and concerns over Lai’s health, including recent heart palpitations. Officials claim his medical care in custody is sufficient.

The trial’s outcome remains pending, with no set date for a verdict. Crowds lined up outside the courthouse Monday, including former Apple Daily readers, expressing concern over Lai’s health and support for his cause.

Beijing maintains the law is necessary for stability, but critics argue it has eroded promised civil liberties since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover.

 

Sources: News Agencies