Background: Germany, France, and the UK have been working with Kyiv on plans to engage Russia in peace negotiations, reviving the E3 format to coordinate strategy and prevent a US-only bilateral dynamic. Today: The E3 countries are developing a joint format to represent Europe in potential Ukraine peace talks, fearing exclusion by the Trump administration. France and Germany lead the initiative, with the UK participating cautiously due to concerns about its relationship with the Trump administration. The E3 aims to support Ukraine's position and protect European interests, including sanctions enforcement and frozen Russian assets. European officials doubt Putin's readiness for serious talks, noting Russia's history of using ceasefires to strengthen its position. The E3 forms the core of the Coalition of the Willing, which has rehearsed a multinational force but has not agreed to deploy it, with some members conditioning deployment on Russia's consent. The Coalition's leadership is shifting after Keir Starmer's resignation and ahead of Emmanuel Macron's departure in 2027. Meanwhile, Ukraine struggles to appoint a new ambassador to the US after dismissing Olga Stefanishyna, with candidates hesitant due to political uncertainty and the need for presidential trust, complicating efforts to secure military aid including Patriot missile production licenses.

Background: France has faced a series of data breaches at public bodies (La Poste, France Travail, ANTS) exploited by cybercriminals for scams, prompting a €200 million emergency cybersecurity funding plan. Today: French prosecutors opened an investigation into a sophisticated cyberattack on the tax administration (DGFiP) that exposed data of 678,000 individuals and businesses, including names, income details, and tax rates. The stolen data does not allow access to secure accounts but poses identity theft risks. The attack follows other breaches on French public institutions, prompting calls for strengthened security measures.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will visit Mayotte on August 26-27 to assess the five-year recovery plan launched after Cyclone Chido devastated the archipelago in December 2024. The visit will focus on reconstruction, illegal immigration, education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. The plan, presented in July 2025, aims to address the island's multiple challenges following the cyclone that caused 40 deaths and 41 missing.

A morning briefing covering multiple international developments: Morocco foiled a mass migration attempt toward Ceuta; Iran detained two French diplomats over alleged foreign interference; the US CENTCOM posted images of the USS George H.W. Bush in the Arabian Sea; an explosion at a Libyan power plant knocked units offline; Houthi fighters were killed in Yemen; Qatar rejected Iran's claim about detained pilots; Gaza Civil Defense recovered remains; South Korea dismissed its chief trade negotiator amid US tariff pressure; and a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 47.