The Kremlin announced Monday that Russia will implement a full ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, coinciding with its celebrations of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. The truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin for "humanitarian reasons," will begin at midnight on May 8 (2100 GMT, May 7).
This move follows intensified efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Until now, Putin had resisted an unconditional ceasefire, tying it to demands that Western arms shipments to Ukraine stop and that Ukraine slow its military mobilization.
On Monday, Ukraine and Russia exchanged long-range attacks, despite the ceasefire announcement. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 119 Ukrainian drones, mainly over the Bryansk region. Ukraine activated air raid sirens nationwide, although no casualties or damage were immediately reported.
The U.S. is facing mounting pressure as it attempts to mediate an end to Europe's most significant conflict since WWII, a war that has already cost tens of thousands of lives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called this week "very critical," suggesting that the U.S. may reconsider its involvement if no progress is made. American military aid has been vital for Ukraine, and its continuation may depend on the outcome of the talks.
Although Trump expressed doubts about Putin’s sincerity, he said over the weekend that a peace deal was "close". European officials, however, accuse Russia of stalling negotiations to gain more territory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio on Sunday to discuss ways to "solidify emerging conditions" for negotiations, though specifics remain unclear. Russia has rejected a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire unless certain conditions are metconditions Ukraine has already accepted, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A French diplomat revealed that Trump, Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to continue working towards securing a durable ceasefire. Ukraine remains firm against ceding any land to Russia, even as Washington hints territorial concessions might be necessary for peace.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is making strides toward a separate agreement with the U.S. to access its valuable mineral resources, with both sides agreeing that previous U.S. aid will not affect the deal’s terms. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that any agreement must align with Ukraine’s laws, constitution, and European commitments.
The conflict, which erupted after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, now has a global dimension, further complicating peace efforts. On Monday, Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for reportedly sending thousands of troops and to Iran and China for supplying military support, according to Western officials. The U.S. and Europe remain Ukraine’s strongest allies.
Foreign ministers from the enlarged BRICS bloc met in Brasília on Thursday, where host Mauro Vieira urged the group to craft “practical pathways” for resolving global conflicts and strengthening multilateral security ahead of the leaders’ summit later this year.
Kyiv on Monday said Moscow must immediately end hostilities in Ukraine if it genuinely desires peace, responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a unilateral three-day ceasefire.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to support a full, lasting, and durable ceasefire.
Uzbekistan and the Philippines are working to boost bilateral investment cooperation, with a focus on key sectors such as ICT, electrical engineering, transport, geology, and textiles.
Greece plans to equip its railways with remote control systems and real-time tracking by September, aiming to improve safety after the country’s deadliest train disaster.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that several major U.S. trading partners had made strong proposals to avoid tariffs, and India is likely to be among the first countries to sign a trade agreement.
A major blackout across Spain and Portugal could last 6 to 10 hours, according to Red Electrica. While power is being restored in some areas, the cause of the outage remains unclear, with authorities considering the possibility of a cyberattack.
Denmark’s King Frederik began a visit to Greenland on Monday to reinforce ties with the semi-autonomous territory following U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to acquire the island.
Foreign ministers from the enlarged BRICS bloc met in Brasília on Thursday, where host Mauro Vieira urged the group to craft “practical pathways” for resolving global conflicts and strengthening multilateral security ahead of the leaders’ summit later this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants a lasting ceasefire to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
As Canadians head to the polls on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals are leading Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in national opinion polls, with Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) trailing in third and the separatist Bloc Québécois in fourth. In what is shaping up to be a tight r
The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor will begin on May 7. Here's a look at the key facts about the conclave, one of the oldest and most secretive elections in the world.
Germany is steadily losing export market share to China within the European Union, according to a report released Monday by the KfW Development Bank.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured NATO allies on Monday that Germany would enhance its military and infrastructure contributions to Europe's defense, in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing concerns over the U.S. commitment to European security.
Singapore has directed Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to block Singaporeans' access to posts by three foreigners accused of attempting to influence the country's upcoming election along racial and religious lines.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that several major U.S. trading partners had made strong proposals to avoid tariffs, and India is likely to be among the first countries to sign a trade agreement.
A major blackout across Spain and Portugal could last 6 to 10 hours, according to Red Electrica. While power is being restored in some areas, the cause of the outage remains unclear, with authorities considering the possibility of a cyberattack.
Denmark’s King Frederik began a visit to Greenland on Monday to reinforce ties with the semi-autonomous territory following U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to acquire the island.
Foreign ministers from the enlarged BRICS bloc met in Brasília on Thursday, where host Mauro Vieira urged the group to craft “practical pathways” for resolving global conflicts and strengthening multilateral security ahead of the leaders’ summit later this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants a lasting ceasefire to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
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