Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Russia. Xi arrived in Russia for a four-day visit, being warmly received by Putin at the Kremlin. However, the start of his visit coincided with reports of ceasefire violations in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of violating its own ceasefire over 700 times in a short period. This accusation was supported by reports of Russian attacks near Chasiv Yar and in other areas of Ukraine, causing civilian casualties in several regions of the country.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about the ceasefire proposed by Putin, calling it a "manipulation." Zelensky pointed out Russia's lack of commitment to U.S.-led peace efforts, which are currently stalled due to diverging interests between the parties.
Despite challenges on the battlefield, Ukraine's parliament ratified a historic agreement with the United States that will allow the latter to access the European country's mineral resources. This measure represents an important step to strengthen strategic ties between the two nations and establish a joint investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Xi's visit to Russia focused on strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, based on a "comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation." Putin and Xi emphasized the importance of these relationships for regional stability and reaffirmed their commitment to international equity and justice.
Meanwhile, armed clashes continue in Ukraine, with reports of Russian attacks during the supposed ceasefire declared by Moscow. Violence persists along the front line, despite attempts to reach a negotiated truce. Ukraine has responded to these attacks and shared information with its international allies about the situation on the ground.
