Russia-Ukraine peace talks resume. Experts: Putin stalling for concessions

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are scheduled to meet in Istanbul today. The Kremlin's delegation for these direct negotiations, proposed by President Putin, includes lower-level officials. This group consists of an aide to the president, two deputy ministers, and two officials from the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU). Some members of this delegation were also part of the Russian team that negotiated with Ukraine shortly after the invasion began in March 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would not personally participate in the talks but would instead send a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Why is Putin dodging Zelensky talks? Experts explain

Russia is attempting to use the ceasefire concept as a strategy for military consolidation and geopolitical advantage, say experts. They explain that Vladimir Putin is avoiding a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky because Moscow has not yet reached its strategic goal of preventing Kyiv from becoming a functioning democracy and a NATO member. Additionally, they believe the international community can influence the outcome of negotiations.

How have Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations evolved during the three years of war?

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to begin today in Istanbul, marking the first direct negotiations in three years. Over the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his desire to resume discussions, aiming to continue from where they last paused in 2022.

Ukraine War: Peace talks unlikely, Russia eyes US

Vladimir Putin's refusal to come to Istanbul will demonstrate that the true intention was to use a potential armistice as a pretext for new military actions, rather than participating in peace negotiations.

Crete 6.3M quake felt as far as Egypt

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the Greek island of Crete on Wednesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) announced.

Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexual assault in France

A French court has found actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women who accused him. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended, according to the BBC.

New US sanctions on Russia hinge on Turkey talks

European leaders are reportedly ready to wait until after a possible meeting between Ukraine's President Volodimir Zelenski and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkey, before urging the U.S. to announce new sanctions against Russia.

Candidate profile // Nicușor Dan – from civic activist to pro-European alternative

Nicușor Dan is an independent politician and the current mayor of Bucharest. He is also a candidate for the 2025 presidential election. Trained as a mathematician, he graduated from the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. In Romania, he is recognized for his civic activism, his efforts to combat corruption, and his strong pro-European stance. He became a significant political figure in the 2010s when he founded the Union Save Bucharest, which later served as the foundation for the formation of the Union Save Romania (USR).

Candidate profile // George Simion – from unionist activist to far-right favorite

George Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), is one of the most controversial candidates in the 2025 presidential elections in Romania. With a nationalist and anti-establishment discourse inspired by Donald Trump's MAGA movement, Simion successfully advanced in the first round of the elections and qualified for the second round with a significant lead.

May 8–9 and Nazi Germany’s capitulation: a carefully preserved historical ambiguity

Two distinct commemorations reflect two opposing worlds rather than a path to reconciliation. On Thursday, May 8, the West—represented by cities such as Paris, London, and even Kiev—celebrates the day in May 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered, acknowledging the joint offensive by the Western Allies and the USSR. Conversely, on Friday, May 9, Moscow will hold a massive military parade that emphasizes anti-Western sentiments. This event will feature the leaders of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as well as numerous African heads of state, representing over half of the world's population.

Second round of the presidential elections in Romania: what's next until May 18

According to the calendar for the Romanian presidential elections, applications to annul the elections can be submitted to the Constitutional Court until May 6 if there are allegations of electoral fraud. On May 8, the Central Electoral Bureau will send the voting results and the centralization documents to the Constitutional Court. The official validation of the first round of elections will take place shortly thereafter.

Romanian presidential elections // Voting in Moldova

Independent candidate and general mayor of Bucharest Nicușor Dan came first in the Republic of Moldova in the first round of the Romanian presidential elections. According to the final results published by the Permanent Electoral Authority, he scored 52.63% of the votes. In all, 90,851 people voted at the 64 open polling stations.