Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow, described by his aide Yury Ushakov as "substantive, constructive and extremely frank." Ushakov stated that the discussions, lasting over three hours, addressed not only the ongoing Ukraine conflict but also explored potential collaborative Russian-US projects.

According to Anadolu Agency, Putin reiterated Russia's willingness to pursue a political and diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis. He emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, while also discussing the recent battlefield advancements of Russian forces. The Russian leader expressed confidence in Moscow's ability to achieve its strategic objectives.

In other developments, tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported attacks on US-affiliated vessels and oil tankers. This followed the US military's destruction of three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for assaults on its warships.

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for more decisive action regarding the situation in Gaza, after receiving troubling accounts from individuals working in the region. Miliband highlighted issues such as blocked medical supplies and children awaiting critical treatment, urging a more assertive response to the humanitarian crisis.

Additionally, global food prices reached their highest level since late 2022 due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war's impact on grain markets. Disruptions in Black Sea exports have led to significant increases in food prices, with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index rising notably in August.