Tokayev: Soviet official in power in Kazakhstan

Russia has announced its intention to cease fire on the occasion of Victory Day on May 9 regardless of whether Ukraine agrees to the proposal — a move that highlights both the symbolic importance of the date in Russian political culture and the continuing stalemate on the battlefield. Speaking at a briefing on April 30, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made it clear that Moscow does not consider Kyiv’s consent a necessary condition. “The reaction is not required for this,” he said, emphasizing that this is a decision of President Vladimir Putin and that it “will be implemented.”

By Saturday evening, initial details emerged about the unexpected visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Azerbaijan, which, according to sources, had been prepared in advance with the involvement of military officials and focused on security and defence cooperation.

When Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arrived in the mountain resort of Gabala for talks with Ilham Aliyev, the setting itself carried a message: a carefully calibrated meeting, away from capitals and front lines, signaling engagement without provocation.

Ukraine has signed 10-year agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to export counter-drone weapons to these countries. In total, similar requests have been received from 11 countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, “plus we are gradually looking toward the Caucasus.” This was stated on April 20 by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a telethon.