Shifting European Geopolitical Realignmentactive

Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has led to a shift in Germany’s security policy priorities and the introduction of the concept of “integrated security,” which envisages the involvement of the entire society in the defense of the state.

Jubilation in Budapest as Péter Magyar becomes leader and invites people to "step through the gate of regime change." • Europe live – latest updates The pro-European center-right leader Péter Magyar has been sworn in as prime minister of Hungary, marking the official end to Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power. Saturday's ceremony – during which Magyar had invited people to join him to "write Hungarian history" together and "step through the gate of regime change" – comes a month after his opposition Tisza party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. Continue reading...

Ukrainian troops continued delivering strikes on Russian army positions and civilian facilities in 18 Russian regions despite the Victory Day ceasefire, the Defense Ministry of Russia reported

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated this Saturday that Ukraine is celebrating Europe Day with the firm conviction that it is already an "indivisible" part of the European family and that it has had the support of Europeans from the very first days of the Russian aggression in February 2022. He also warned that Putin's Russia "will not succeed" in dividing its allies. "Today is Europe Day. And Ukraine is celebrating it not in a formal way, nor with slogans, but with a full awareness that we are already an inseparable part of the European family," Zelenskyy wrote in a message on social media. "We are defending Ukraine, our independence, our future; and in doing so, in Ukraine we are defending our Europe. A Europe of which Ukraine has been and will continue to be a part," he added. He added that from the very first days of the large-scale war to the present day, Europe has stood by Ukraine, not out of charity, but as a decision made by Europeans to "stand with the brave and the strong, with the Ukrainians who are fighting today for peace and for true protection against tyranny, not only for themselves, but for the entire continent." "We will inevitably defend our state, our people, and our right to freely choose our future: a future in Europe," he affirmed. For his part, he warned that "Russia will not succeed in dividing or fracturing Europe," while thanking the president for his congratulations...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed steps toward Ukraine's European integration with President of the European Council Antonio Costa.

European leaders are commemorating Europe Day this Saturday, the anniversary of the inception in 1950 of the seed of the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community, celebrating over 70 years of unity, despite disagreements, in the face of the numerous international crises of the present day. Starting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, members of the EU have taken to social media to celebrate a "European project" that the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has described as "a treasure forged by the courage of those who refused to let nationalism and war be our destiny." "In the face of crises, Europe has not stopped protecting us and acting quickly, with strength and solidarity when history calls at our door. During the pandemic, in the economic turmoil, in the face of the Russian threat and the war in Ukraine on European soil, we have resisted, always," declared the French head of state. The President of the European Council, António Costa, has presented the EU as an example of international collaboration. "United in diversity, we continue to build our shared future of peace, freedom, and opportunity," he stated. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has joined in these congratulations on a day that his country "commemorates not with formalities or slogans, but fully aware that it is already an inseparable part of the European family." "From..."

Russia will remain the greatest security threat to Europe for the foreseeable future, and Germany must strengthen its own defense capabilities to prevent an open military conflict.

"Russian-Slovak relations for many years, including during your previous terms as prime minister, were characterized by a high level of political dialogue and stable cooperation dynamics," the Russian leader said

Hungary's incoming prime minister Pater Magyar is marking a "clean break" with his predecessor Viktor Orban as he is set to be sworn into office on Saturday. "It's officially a new era", said Zsolt Kerner, senior reporter at Hungarian online media 24.hu. Magyar was previously a member of Orban's Fidesz party.

German company backed by Spotify’s Daniel Ek set to raise $1.2bn in latest funding round

A military unit from North Korea participated in a military parade for the first time, marching on Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin led the military parade on Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union's triumph in World War II, in Moscow's Red Square. His remarks focused on the progress of the Russian military in Ukraine. The President stated that, "despite the fact that (Russian soldiers) are fighting against an aggressive force (the Ukrainian army) that is supported by the entire NATO bloc, our heroes continue to advance" on the front lines. Putin used the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany to emphasize the historical continuity between the soldiers fighting in Ukraine and those who fought in the "Great Patriotic War," a term used by the Soviet Union to refer to World War II. He also highlighted that the current troops "continue the tradition of Soviet soldiers." Putin reminded those present that the Red Army "saved" not only the Soviet Union, but also Europe, referring to countries that "had surrendered and ceded their sovereignty to the advancing Nazi forces." During the ceremony, Putin emphasized the importance of national unity, stating that the consolidation of the Russian people, their moral strength, and "the ability to overcome any challenge" are "the key to success." This sentiment was reflected in his most emphatic message: "I am firmly convinced that our cause is just. We are together, and victory was and always will be ours." The...

Hungary's incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, arrived Saturday at the Parliament building to be sworn into office, ending Viktor Orban's autocratic 16-year rule. RFI Correspondent Florence Le Bruyère reports from Budapest.

Deputy Head of the Kramatorsk District State Administration Roman Simashov, who was injured in Russia's May 5 strike on the city, has died in hospital.

The number raises the prospect that about half a million soldiers in total have died on the Russian and Ukrainian sides.

Fico’s motorcade arrived at the Kremlin, where he was greeted by an honor guard and an orchestra at the red carpet

A performance at Tikkurila high school has sparked controversy after students performed to a patriotic Russian song and waved Russian flags.

Bright lights and mysterious objects, those are what could be found in a new batch of files on UFOs that the Pentagon began releasing on Friday as President Donald Trump taps into the public's long-held curiosities about "unidentified anomalous phenomena” in the broader universe.

Putin is set to speak at the World War II commemoration, which is scaled back this year due to security concerns.

The Taiwanese parliament, which has an opposition majority, approved this Friday a budget of nearly USD 25 billion for defense. This amount is significantly lower than the proposal presented in November by President Lai Ching-te, who had requested a supplementary budget of USD 40 billion. This measure, which ends months of political debate about defense spending, represents a setback for the president and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). During the negotiations, the Kuomintang – the main opposition party and favorable to strengthening ties with the Chinese regime – proposed increasing funding for the acquisition of American weaponry. Legislators from the ruling party criticized the proposal and warned that it could leave Taiwan vulnerable in the event of a blockade or encirclement by China, by excluding domestic purchases from the final budget. For this reason, the ruling party accused the opposition group of seeking to "disarm" the island. President Lai intended to increase defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2025 and to highlight the support of the United States and the principle of "seeking peace through strength." Lai also stated that the development of the T-Dome, an integrated multi-layered defense system to protect Taiwan from Chinese missiles, rockets, drones, and combat aircraft, is being accelerated, amidst exercises by Beijing near the island and Japan…

In a survey by Uutissuomalainen, second place went to Riikka Purra of the Finns Party, followed by Sofia Virta of the Greens.

"When they try to weaken us, we respond with greater determination."

The parade began with a march of the banner group of the Preobrazhensky Regiment Honor Guard’s unit carrying the Russian national flag and the legendary Victory Banner across Red Square

Earlier, Zelensky threatened to launch drones towards Moscow during the Victory Day parade on May 9.

Each year, President Putin delivers a major speech at the Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square

In accordance with Hungarian law, Magyar, as the leader of the winning party, will be nominated for the post of prime minister by President Tamas Sulyok

On Saturday, May 9, Ukraine is celebrating Europe Day together with the countries of the European Union.

Security was tight in Moscow on Saturday as President Vladimir Putin prepared to speak at Russia’s annual Victory Day parade in Red Square. Authorities have scaled back the traditional military display amid fears of Ukrainian attacks despite a fragile US-backed ceasefire intended to prevent disruptions to the commemorations.

The parent company of President Donald Trump's Truth Social, the social media platform, showed a net loss of over $400 million in the first quarter.

At an informal EU summit in Cyprus in April, "Vladimir Zelensky was reportedly upbraided by other European leaders over his EU membership expectations

U. S. President Donald Trump emphasized that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap at his request.

The former opposition leader, who won a landslide election, now faces the formidable job of dismantling what his predecessor called an “illiberal democracy.”

The event, shrunken because of security fears, adds to a sense that Moscow and other cities can no longer be insulated from the war.

Peter Magyar, the incoming prime minister, has promised to push out “puppets of the old regime.” Many are jumping first.

The world's largest asset manager says that governments must address the under-investment of retail money in capital markets.

After US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire on Friday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the conditions of the truce, ordering the Ukrainian military not to attack the parade. He also stated that adhering to the ceasefire would enable the swap of 1,000 detainees from each warring side.

Donald Trump said, "I would love to see that war end. I have settled eight wars and actually nine, and it looks like we could have ten."

Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, as well as the country’s Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Rianne Letschert, during the 61st Venice Biennale.

Maria Zakharova emphasized that the collective West is doing everything possible to avoid recognizing the misanthropic logic and to ignore the absolutely extremist and terrorist threats coming from Zelensky.

Rumen Radev, who was elected on April 19, secured broad parliamentary support on May 8. While he reiterated his ambition for Bulgaria to be a 'modern nation in the European sense,' he remains highly cautious regarding assistance to Ukraine.

In Bulgaria, a country in Eastern Europe that is a member of the European Union, former President Radev, known for his pro-Russian stance, was elected as the new Prime Minister on the 8th. It remains to be seen what policies he will pursue, particularly regarding support for Ukraine.

President Trump said on Friday that he hopes a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will be extended beyond the announced three days, after the two countries agreed to halt fighting through the weekend. “I’d like to see a big extension,” Trump told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation after White House correspondent Kellie Meyer asked…

The ministers must first define a list of demands for Russia to begin negotiations

Rostec specialists managed to create a number of prototypes in a short timeframe that surpass Western counterparts in terms of their overall characteristics

Nearly a month ago Péter Magyar steered his Tisza party to a landslide victory, sweeping away 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán.

The Kremlin's deputy prime minister for space affairs criticized Giuli, saying, "I hope she comes." He then gave an interview to a Russian television channel. The curator responded, "Thank you for everything."

Over three thousand protesters are attempting to break into the Arsenal. The Israeli ambassador stated: "There is art here, not politics."

The US has published transcripts, video clips and audio recordings about unidentified flying objects, also called unidentified anomalous phenomena.

The Pentagon on Friday released online what it called “new, never-before-seen” files, dating back decades, related to unidentified flying objects.

US President Donald Trump first announced a three-day truce between the warring sides, saying he hoped it could lead to a long-term deal to end the war.

The European Union maintains an active presence in El Salvador through initiatives that cover key sectors such as renewable energy, digital transformation, and institutional cooperation. These areas have been highlighted by Duccio Bandini, the European Union Ambassador to El Salvador and to the Central American Integration System (SICA), as fundamental for strengthening ties between the European bloc and the Central American region. One of the most prominent areas of collaboration is the promotion of renewable energy. According to Bandini himself, the European Union has channeled investments and technology towards El Salvador, including a loan of 250 million euros aimed at improving the national electricity grid. This financing, managed in partnership with the state-owned company ETESAL, seeks to optimize energy production and transmission, with a focus on reducing losses during distribution. The ambassador explained that this type of project is part of a broader agenda aimed at promoting the green economy, a sector in which the European bloc possesses recognized expertise and technological capabilities. In the field of digital transformation, Salvadoran companies have found opportunities to export services to Europe, taking advantage of the time difference and the support provided by European institutions. Bandini explained that the technology and digital marketing sector in El Salvador has shown significant growth...

The brief pause in fighting, as well as a planned prisoner exchange, will coincide with President Vladimir Putin’s plans for the country’s annual Victory Day parade in Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has authorized the holding of the May 9, 2026 parade in Moscow and ordered that the area of Red Square be excluded from Ukrainian weapons targeting plans for the duration of the parade.

The Pentagon released "new and previously unreleased" files on UFOs this Friday, a move presented as a sign of its commitment to transparency regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). According to The New York Times, the Department of Defense stated in a press release that "no other president or administration in history has maintained this level of transparency regarding UAPs." The collection, which will be published gradually, is hosted on an official portal of the United States government. What do the files show? The first files released primarily include low-resolution still images. One shows a cluster of bright points on a screen; another depicts objects of irregular shapes whose nature is unclear. The Pentagon itself acknowledges that the material is open to multiple interpretations. On social media, President Donald Trump presented the move as fulfilling a campaign promise. "While previous administrations have not been transparent on this issue, with these new documents and videos, people can decide for themselves: 'WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?'" he wrote on Truth Social. Below are some of the most striking files released by the Pentagon: An image of a humanoid figure In one of the files released by the U.S. government, a letter is sent to the O...

Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov confirmed this at the instruction of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s inability to conquer Ukraine is spurring unusually harsh public complaints over both the lack of military progress and the growing economic costs of the war, a pair of failures being blamed on President Vladimir Putin’s leadership. The damage caused by bombardments by low-flying armed drones hitting targets deep into Russian territory has brought the […] The post Ukraine War rains on Putin’s parade appeared first on Asia Times.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to Moscow for the May 9 military parade.

US President Donald Trump hailed his government's move to release over a 100 UFO-related documents as "complete and maximum transparency."

Robert Fico expressed hope that the current trends observed in some European countries do not spread to other countries.

According to Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, the leaders will attend the Victory Parade on Red Square, the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Alejandro Tabilo's (ranked 35th) recent good form came to an end in the second round of the Rome Masters 1000, where he faced Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo (ranked 27th). Cerúndolo capitalized on every opportunity, delivering a crushing defeat to the Chilean with scores of 6-0 and 6-2. From the start, the best Chilean player looked unrecognizable. With a very low percentage of first serves and a series of unforced errors, the left-hander made things far too easy for his opponent on the Nicola Pietrangeli court. Clearly fatigued from the demands of the past few weeks and facing the depth of Cerúndolo's game, his level was far below his usual standard. On the other hand, Pablo Cuevas' protégé displayed excellent form with his forehand, which had more power than Tabilo's, and he took full advantage of every opportunity presented to him by the player from Toronto. Three consecutive breaks of serve and a warning for breaking his racquet were the most telling examples of the struggles faced by the number one player in the country. As a result, the first set was over in just 29 minutes. In the second set, Cerúndolo was full of confidence and completely in control of his shots, especially his powerful forehand. Tabilo, on the other hand, remained very disoriented, unable to read his opponent's shots, and on several occasions, he stood motionless in front of his adversary's forehand. It was therefore not surprising that he immediately lost another service game. Only after 45 minutes did the Chilean, with a great deal of effort…

Sokurov had been slated to speak at a pre-opening event at the Venice Biennale titled “Dissent and Peace” this week, but organizers scrapped his appearance, citing “last-minute unavailability.”

Most respondents said that Europe should reduce its technological dependence on China, even if this would slow climate action, according to the Sitra/Eva survey.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 393 polling stations in Ukraine have been completely destroyed, while 1,001 others have been damaged but can still be restored.

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop also stated that militants are waging a "hybrid war" against the Sahel States Confederation.

EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas on Friday proposed doubling European Peace Facility funding for Moldova to €120 million annually, noting the boost would make it the bloc’s biggest defense support package for any country outside Ukraine. Speaking alongside Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chișinău, Kallas said the new proposal would sharply expand EU-backed military assistance as Moldova faces mounting pressure from Russia’s ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine. “Through the European Peace Facility, we have already provided €200 million worth of assistance,” Kallas said. “I will also propose to Member States to double the EPF funding to €120 million annually. This would be the largest ever EPF assistance measure for any beneficiary country after Ukraine.” Any increase would require approval from EU members, who have spent years squabbling over the bloc’s off-budget mechanism for financing military assistance. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spent years blocking efforts to free cash for EPF reimbursements, and in the past France and Germany have raised objections on technical grounds as well. Kallas framed the cash boost as part of a broader effort to harden Moldova against Russian pressure. “Moldova remains caught in Russia’s hybrid war,” she said, pointing to attacks on energy infrastructure and repeated Russian drone incursions into Moldovan airspace. A new EU-funded radar system has already arrived in the country, she added, helping Moldova improve detection of Russian drones near its borders. The EPF proposal would significantly deepen the EU’s defense relationship with Chișinău. In 2024, Moldova became the first non-EU country to sign a security and defense partnership with the bloc. “Moldova already belongs to the European community,” Kallas said Friday, adding that Brussels will soon host a second EU-Moldova summit, though no date has yet been announced.

Peter Magyar and his government are determined to push ahead with change at full throttle. But even before the cabinet is sworn in, there has been a "resignation." And questions remain about Magyar's Ukraine policy.

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced a Ukrainian attack on a Russian oil infrastructure facility in the Yaroslavl region, located over 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Zelensky, this action is a response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. The attack occurred during the 48-hour ceasefire declared by the Kremlin starting at midnight, as part of Russia's commemoration of Victory Day on May 9th, a date that marks the Soviet triumph over the Nazis in World War II. Prior to the claim of responsibility for this attack, Zelensky had reported Russian offensives against Ukrainian positions on the front lines during the early hours of the ceasefire. According to the Ukrainian leader, the facility that was targeted is "crucial for financing" Russia's war against Ukraine, as the Russian war effort relies heavily on oil exports. Zelensky described the attack as "an act of justice" and expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian military and intelligence services for the effectiveness of the operation. The leader of Kyiv had previously stated that Ukraine would refrain from carrying out long-range attacks on Russian territory if Moscow respected the 48-hour ceasefire unilaterally declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky indicated this morning that the ceasefire was considered violated due to the Russian attacks on…

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Poland has signed an agreement with the European Commission to receive €43.7 billion (185 billion zloty) in loans over the next four years for defence spending under the European Union’s SAFE programme. It is the first of 19 member states that have applied for SAFE funds to sign an agreement. Poland is also by far the largest recipient of funds under the programme. Signing the agreement immediately unlocks 15% of the total, around €6.5 billion, as an advance payment. Umowa #PolskaSAFE podpisana! 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/meos4JWMf2 — Adam Szłapka (@adamSzlapka) May 8, 2026 “This is a great moment for Poland, for Europe and for the safety of our children and grandchildren,” said defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at Friday’s signing ceremony, alongside finance minister Andrzej Domański and the European defence and budget commissioners, Andrius Kubilius and Piotr Serafin. Kubilius likewise hailed the step as a “monumental occasion” that will “make all of us in Europe safer”. He praised Poland for being “a leader in Europe in taking responsibility on defence” of the entire continent. The Polish government says that the loans – which are equivalent to almost the entire annual defence budget –  are on far more favourable terms than Poland could obtain itself and will significantly bolster security. It also claims that almost 90% of the money will be spent domestically, providing a major boost to the Polish defence industry. Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads However, the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party and PiS-aligned President Karol Nawrocki have been highly critical of SAFE, arguing that it saddles the country with decades of debt on uncertain terms and gives the EU greater power to interfere in Poland’s domestic affairs. In March, Nawrocki vetoed a government bill intended to facilitate the receipt and disbursement of the SAFE funds. He proposed an alternative that involved using funds generated from central bank profits. But the government, as well as many experts, dismissed the idea as unrealistic. Instead, the government launched a “plan B” to disburse the SAFE money through the Armed Forces Support Fund, an existing instrument. However, it warned that this may require some of the funds to be diverted away from non-military security spending (such as the border guard) and incur greater administrative costs. In late April, after assessing Poland’s plans, the European Commission issued a loan agreement to Poland to borrow the full €43.7 billion that it had been designated. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Poland as “an essential pillar of Europe’s security architecture”. The EU has issued a loan agreement for Poland to borrow €43.7 billion for defence spending under the SAFE programme. "Poland is an essential pillar of Europe's defence architecture," declared @vonderleyen. "You keep our eastern flank safe" https://t.co/bukooCqonv — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 24, 2026 “There is no cheaper, more effective source of funding for the modernisation of the Polish army than the SAFE programme,” finance minister Andrzej Domański told Polsat News on Friday ahead of the signing ceremony. He confirmed that interest rates on the loans are not known in advance. They depend on the terms available at the time the European Commission borrows the money on the markets, because each tranche of SAFE funds is issued as a separate loan. But Domański said that the loans would always be on more advantageous terms than Poland could independently obtain. Domański also noted that the interest rate, which would currently be “probably slightly above 3%”, is “clearly cheaper than what our predecessors [the PiS government] borrowed from the United States or South Korea” to finance arms purchases from those two countries. Poland has been NATO's biggest importer of arms over the last five years, according to new data from @SIPRIorg. Over 90% of Polish imports have come from South Korea and the United States https://t.co/jij0nfbhFc — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 9, 2026 Now that the loan agreement has been concluded, the next stage will be for the Polish government to sign, by the end of May, around 40 contracts for arms purchases using the SAFE funds. The remaining money will then arrive in twice-yearly tranches each April and October, up to 2030. Under the terms of SAFE, at least 65% of the funds must be spent within Europe. Nawrocki and PiS have argued that this restricts choice when making procurement decisions and risks harming relations with the US and South Korea, which are currently Poland’s main two arms suppliers. State assets minister Wojciech Balczun told Business Insider Polska this week that the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), a state defence holding company, will be the largest recipient of the funds, with dozens of entities owned by it set to benefit from procurement contracts. Among the priorities for the spending are Poland’s East Shield project to bolster defences on its borders with Russia and Belarus, as well as the creation of a new anti-drone system. Poland has signed an agreement for a new anti-drone system that it claims will be the first of its kind in Europe. The network is intended to protect Poland’s eastern borders, where last year around 20 Russian drones crossed in an unprecedented incursion https://t.co/WhWhJxDwXA — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 30, 2026 Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: PremierRP/X

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the command post of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Cornet Leonid Stupnytskyi during a working trip to the Oleksandrivka sector of the front.

Vieno Nurmilaukas was the last living Finn known to have been born under Russian rule.

Poland reached an agreement with the European Union’s executive arm to unlock €43.7 billion in loans for defense spending, paving the way for record contracts with the domestic arms industry.

Ukraine has not commented on whether Volodymyr Zelensky asked Robert Fico to deliver a message to the Russian leader.

Russia's return to the 2026 Venice Biennale has given the Kremlin a symbolic victory. The opening is reportedly being boycotted by EU culture commissioner Glenn Micallef and Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli, but the outcome feels less like a compromise and more like a surrender.

According to Svetlana Lipina, without comprehensive measures to strengthen the revenue base and optimize costs the risk will remain significant in 2026 - 2027

EU personal sanctions involve the freezing of individuals’ bank assets in Europe, if such assets can be located, as well as bans on entry into EU member states

The former president received 124 votes from lawmakers representing the Progressive Bulgaria coalition

"No one's accreditation has been revoked," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Europeans are taking credit for the growing signs of strain in the Russian economy. Does that mean sanctions are working? It's complicated.

Exports from Germany had risen at a time when many feared they would be in retreat because of punishing US tariffs. Meanwhile, one of Germany's biggest banks is set to cut jobs to fend off a takeover. DW has the latest.

Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was formally named Bulgaria’s new prime minister on Thursday, cementing a landslide election victory that shattered the country’s long-fractured political order. Radev’s newly formed Progressive Bulgaria party secured the first outright parliamentary majority since 1997 in the April 19 vote, ending years of unstable coalitions and repeat votes in the EU member state. The country’s parliament on Thursday approved his appointment as prime minister and signed off on his cabinet lineup. The former president and air force commander campaigned on anger directed at Bulgaria’s political establishment, blaming traditional parties for years of corruption, instability and backroom dealmaking. After five years of revolving coalitions and eight elections, Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria movement crushed the country’s old political guard. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Radev on Friday morning, writing on X that Europe faced “a strong agenda to work on” together, including “security and defence,” “competitiveness” and “energy independence.” While unveiling his cabinet on Thursday, Radev also laid out his priorities in office. He said the government’s immediate focus would be tackling soaring prices, alongside judicial reform, budget discipline and accelerating the use of EU recovery funds before key deadlines expire. Radev’s victory ends years of political deadlock in Bulgaria — but also hands his new Russia-aligned government the country’s biggest parliamentary mandate in nearly three decades.

On Friday, 13 airports in southern Russia, as well as Moscow Vnukovo Airport, temporarily suspended operations. Among the targets hit by drones was the building of the Air Navigation of Southern Russia traffic control center in Rostov-on-Don.

Péter Magyar's adoption of national symbols has caused unease among critics both within Hungary and internationally, but his approach could potentially indicate a move towards a more inclusive and less confrontational form of Hungarian patriotism.

Márton Melléthei-Barna withdrew his candidacy for justice minister in Hungary's incoming government on Thursday night, following criticism regarding his family ties to incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The lawyer, who is married to Magyar's sister, Anna Ilona Melléthei-Barna, said he was stepping aside to avoid undermining public confidence in the country's political transition. "To ensure that not even the slightest shadow is cast on the transition, I consulted with Péter Magyar, and we agreed that it would best serve the interests of the country and the TISZA government" if another candidate took the role, he wrote in a Facebook post. Melléthei-Barna insisted his appointment would have been "unassailable from legal, political, moral and human perspectives," but acknowledged that his "family and friendship ties with the Prime Minister" had become a distraction at a sensitive political moment. The reversal comes less than a week after Magyar publicly defended his decision to appoint his brother-in-law to one of the most powerful posts in the Hungarian government. Calling Melléthei-Barna's professional competence "unquestionable," the prime minister-designate argued that concerns about nepotism were understandable, but manageable. Magyar also said his sister, who is a sitting judge in the Pest Central District Court, would step down from the bench "to avoid even the appearance of an intertwining of branches of power." Magyar unveil…

Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court has sentenced Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, and Anatoly Torkunov, rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations at the Russian Foreign Ministry, in absentia to ten years in prison with confiscation of property over an anti-Ukrainian textbook.

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Poland has selected Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn as a strategic partner for a long-delayed project to develop a hub for producing homegrown electric vehicles (EVs). ElectroMobility Poland (EMP), the state-owned company leading the project, said Foxconn was chosen for its willingness to transfer technology, support the development of local expertise in EV design and engineering at a Polish research and development centre, and engage domestic suppliers. Cooperation may take the form of a joint venture, with an agreement expected to be finalised in the second half of the year, the state assets ministry said. Jak podaje Business Insider Polska, Izera właśnie zyskuje nowe życie. Electromobility Poland ma ogłosić współpracę z nowym partnerem, z którym rozpocznie prace nad elektrykiem. Do Polski wejdzie gigant z Tajwanu, a EMP ma otrzymać 4,5 mld zł z KPO.https://t.co/8pebubi6rs — Jakub Wiech (@jakubwiech) May 7, 2026 This is the latest attempt to advance a project that has faced repeated delays and previously involved several failed partnerships since being launched by the former Law and Justice (PiS) government in 2020. The plans envisage developing a portfolio of electric vehicles, initially comprising three models, under a local brand and introducing them to the European market, while building technological and operational capabilities in Poland. The project includes a planned production plant in Jaworzno and a new research and development centre supporting software, data analytics and digital mobility solutions The initiative will be complemented by an investment mechanism supporting the broader mobility ecosystem, with a focus on Poland’s battery sector, already the largest in Europe. The project will be partly financed through around 4.5 billion zloty (€1.1 billion) from EU post-pandemic recovery funds. But EMP notes that the new partner is also expected to contribute capital to the joint venture. Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads Foxconn is one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers, producing for brands including Apple, Samsung and Microsoft, and operating in more than 20 countries with around 900,000 employees. EMP notes that the Taiwanese firm has in recent years been rapidly expanding its involvement in the EV sector. Jan Wiśniewski, director of the research and analysis centre at the New Mobility Association (PSNM), an industry body, said the choice of Foxconn was a sensible one, pointing to the company’s global scale, “impressive portfolio” and technological capabilities. He noted that the group accounts for more than 40% of global consumer electronics production, adding that its growing focus on artificial intelligence and electromobility strengthened its credentials as a partner. The number of fully electric passenger vehicles in Poland has passed 100,000 for the first time. Sales of EVs in Poland have risen at one of the fastest rates in the EU this year, following the introduction of state subsidies for buyers https://t.co/h31pAhV0qT — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 8, 2025 Plans to create Poland’s first electric car brand, initially named Izera, were first outlined under the former PiS government in 2020. Two years later, Chinese company Geely was chosen to supply a vehicle platform. However, the partnership stalled after delays in securing funding, reports Business Insider Polska. Potential cooperation with another potential Chinese partner, Chery, also failed to materialise. In 2023, a report by Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) found that, despite hundreds of millions of zlotys in public funds being spent on the project, progress had reached only 4% of planned targets. Progress in government plans to create a Polish electric car is at only 4% of where it was supposed to be despite large investment, says the state auditor. Despite an aim to begin producing the cars in 2023, a factory site has not yet even been securedhttps://t.co/Xho1IylvBh — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) September 21, 2023 The current coalition government, which replaced PiS in office in late 2023, claims the project has now been put on a more viable footing. State assets minister Wojciech Balczun said the revised plan replaced earlier concepts that lacked financial and technological foundations with a concrete investment project backed by a foreign partner. “This cooperation is not intended to be a one-off project, as is often the case with traditional foreign investments. Our strategic goal is to rapidly develop the automotive sector in Poland,” said his deputy minister, Eliza Zeidler. Poland has one of the lowest levels of electric car uptake in the European Union. However, a government subsidy scheme introduced last year boosted registrations, bringing the total number of fully electric vehicles to more than 120,000 by the end of 2025, according to PSNM. 🇵🇱 Polska elektromobilność wchodzi na nowy poziom⚡ 🎯Podczas konferencji prasowej z udziałem ministra @wbalczun, wiceminister Elizy Zeidler oraz prezesa ElectroMobility Poland S. A. Cypriana Gronkiewicza ogłoszono strategicznego partnera dla projektu #EMP – tajwańską firmę… pic.twitter.com/piXtsgo6N5 — Ministerstwo Aktywów Państwowych 🇵🇱 (@MAPGOVPL) May 7, 2026 Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: WORT News/Wikimedia Commons (under CC BY 2.0)

Russia had declared a unilateral ceasefire for World War II commemorations, but Ukraine said Moscow has not held off. Both sides reported new strikes. A Victory Day parade in Moscow will be more subdued this year.

In temporarily occupied Crimea, a large electrical substation caught fire overnight on May 8 following a drone attack. A fire was also reported on the grounds of the Brom chemical plant, and a Russian military unit in Simferopol was reportedly hit.

Mark Owen is pleased to welcome Melinda Haring, expert on Ukraine, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and Senior Advisor to Razom Advocacy's advisory board. According to Haring, the psychological and military balance between Russia and Ukraine is shifting. Her central argument, in the lead-up to Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, is that the Kremlin’s increasingly defensive posture reveals a profound shift in the war: “Vladimir Putin is finally afraid.”

Mark Owen is pleased to welcome Melinda Haring, Expert on Ukraine, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and Senior Advisor to Razom Advocacy's advisory board. According to Haring, the psychological and military balance between Russia and Ukraine is shifting. Her central argument, in the leadup to Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, is that the Kremlin’s increasingly defensive posture reveals a profound shift in the war: “Vladimir Putin is finally afraid.” Haring frames the Victory Day parade not as a display of triumphant state power, but as a diminished and anxious spectacle. The contrast she draws is vivid and politically consequential: “A year ago, the celebration in Red Square was big and bold… This year, it’s not big. It’s not bold. It’s going to be kind of pathetic and they’re fearful.” In her telling, Ukraine’s rapid advances in drone warfare and long-range strike capabilities have altered not only the battlefield, but the psychological architecture of the Kremlin itself. Beyond military developments, Haring focuses on the realm of political psychology and elite instability. She paints a portrait of an increasingly isolated Russian president whose paranoia has deepened under the pressures of war, technological vulnerability, and internal power struggles. “He’s not only afraid of the Ukrainians wanting to whack him,” she argues, “he’s afraid that the elite around him is starting to break.” Perhaps most compelling is her broader reframing of the war narrative itself. Rather than accepting the mythology of Soviet military grandeur traditionally embodied in Victory Day commemorations, Haring redirects attention toward “the defenders of Ukraine and what they’ve been able to accomplish with so little.” The interview thus becomes not only an assessment of military realities, but also an exploration of symbolic power, perception, fear, and the erosion of authoritarian confidence under prolonged war.

A nine-year-old boy was injured by drone debris in the town of Yelets in the Lipetsk Region

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated today, May 8, on the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism, that the Ukrainian people are once again forced to stop evil — an updated version of Nazism labeled "made in Russia."

For the first time in nearly two decades, there will be no military equipment on display, only soldiers, at the parade in Moscow on Saturday.

The Ukrainian president stated: "Over the past night, there were more than 140 attacks by Moscow, involving 850 drones." Russia claims: "We conducted 390 raids."

Russian forces have carried out 596 strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Representatives from cities and regions of the European Union stated on Thursday that the recovery of Ukraine following the Russian invasion will only be possible with the active participation of local authorities, as preparations continue for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), which will be held in Gdansk, Poland, next month. During a debate in the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), local and regional leaders from the EU reaffirmed their commitment to Kyiv, in the presence of Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories, Oleksii Riabykin, and emphasized that decentralization is the foundation of Ukrainian resilience. The President of the CoR, Kata Tüttő, stated that progress in the recovery of Ukraine "will be achieved at the local level, in the cities and regions that keep the country functioning and rebuild communities." Tüttő, who will represent the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine at the June summit, urged for concrete measures of solidarity and called on European local authorities to consider expanding their material support, especially in light of the urgent energy needs and other challenges facing the country due to the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Development of Communities and Territories, Oleksii Riabykin, reported that the economic needs for the reconstruction of Ukraine over the next decade are…

The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, held her first meeting on Thursday in Rome with her future Hungarian counterpart, Péter Magyar. During the meeting, both reaffirmed their commitment to addressing irregular immigration and discussed various bilateral and European issues. The Italian Prime Minister described the meeting as "fruitful" and noted that they discussed "the main bilateral issues and the challenges that Europe faces, from managing migration flows to the major crisis situations at the international level." Meloni, a former ally of Viktor Orbán—who was replaced by Magyar after sixteen years in power—emphasized that relations between Rome and Budapest are "strong" and expressed her intention to "continue strengthening them further." For his part, Magyar, who is still awaiting his inauguration after his electoral victory, considered the meeting with his Italian counterpart to be "constructive and forward-looking." The future Prime Minister highlighted the alignment of positions between the two countries on issues such as "decisive action against illegal immigration, the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union, and the strengthening of the competitiveness of the member states." The future Hungarian Prime Minister encouraged the Prime Minister to promote bilateral investments and to finance "as soon as possible" the creation of a Hungarian logistics center at the port of T…

Russia and Ukraine launched fresh drone attacks overnight, casting doubt that Moscow’s unilateral ceasefire proposal around the weekend’s Victory Day commemoration would be implemented.

Elsewhere, Poland's ongoing institutional crisis continues to disrupt the functioning of the state; a Congress of Sudeten Germans scheduled to take place in Czechia has prompted protests; and Slovak judges have issued a warning regarding political attacks on judicial independence.

Over the past day, May 7, a total of 208 combat engagements between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front line.