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.
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on trade, infrastructure and preparations for Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan later this month.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Russia has restricted some mobile internet services ahead of Victory Day on Saturday (9 May), citing security concerns. The annual celebrations, marking victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, have been scaled back amid fears of attacks from Ukraine.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia, highlighting what he described as growing diplomatic cooperation with Minsk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.
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