Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow for the third day in a row on Wednesday, disrupting air traffic at the capital’s airports just hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled arrival for a high-profile visit.
The strikes forced airport closures and grounded flights, intensifying tensions as Russia prepares to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May.
Xi, whose country is Russia’s top buyer of oil and gas and a key economic ally amid Western sanctions, is set to arrive Wednesday evening. Though the Chinese Foreign Ministry avoided commenting on the drone attacks, it emphasized the need to avoid further escalation.
The Kremlin condemned the drone strikes as acts of terrorism, and said its intelligence and military forces were ensuring safety for the upcoming anniversary events. Xi is expected to attend the Red Square parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, making him the most prominent international figure at the event.
Russia views Xi's attendance, along with leaders from 28 other nations, as a diplomatic win and a sign it is not isolated. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry warned that foreign military participation in the parade would contradict any country’s neutral stance on the war.
While Moscow reported destroying 14 Ukrainian drones, Kyiv suffered its own airstrike overnight, with a mother and her son killed. Russia insists it only targets military infrastructure.
Xi, who has called for peace talks and criticized U.S. arms support to Ukraine, will meet Putin on Thursday and attend the parade Friday. He is also expected to sign multiple deals, reinforcing China's strategic partnership with Moscow.
As U.S.-China tensions continue, and Washington tries to revive peace efforts, Putin and Xi aim to present a united front against American dominance. In an article published Wednesday, Xi emphasized preserving the post-World War II international order and strengthening China-Russia cooperation. Russian officials hailed the visit as a major event in bilateral relations, with discussions expected to cover energy projects like the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
Georgia has unveiled a new funding model for public universities, highlighting the different ways higher education is financed across the South Caucas...
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electric...
Ariana Grande says she will step back from public-facing work after her Eternal Sunshine Tour ends next month, marking a temporary pause in one of pop...
A tourist aircraft crashed near Peru's UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines on Saturday (1 August), killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were to begin on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in Greece on Sunday, killing two crew members as emergency services continued efforts to contain fires fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions across Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
Police have arrested six people on suspicion of arson as prosecutors investigate dozens of wildfires that have broken out across Türkiye in recent days.
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electricity grid during an intense heatwave.
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of questions over the health and well-being of the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
17 Gaming won the PUBG: Battlegrounds title at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana after a closely fought tournament that was decided in the 15th and final match.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment