Russia

Russia's economy is showing resilience, with the ruble strengthening against the dollar and Western sanctions waivers on oil shipments extended by the US and eased by the UK for diesel and jet fuel. Lavrov criticizes the US for seeking to push Rosneft out of global business, while UniCredit reaches a deal to sell its Russian business and Moscow discusses a gas pipeline to China via Kazakhstan.

• 17US extends sanctions waiver on Russian oil shipments
• 6UK eases Russian sanctions to allow diesel and jet fuel imports
• 6Lavrov: US seeks to push Rosneft out of global business
• 5Lavrov criticizes IMF over Ukraine funding and US oil interests
• 5UniCredit reaches non-binding deal to sell Russian business

Putin visits Beijing for a state visit after Trump's departure, meeting Xi Jinping to stress strong ties and criticize the Western-led world order. Lavrov states the West is at war with Russia and US policy remains unchanged under Trump, while Trump announces a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

• 124Xi and Putin meet in Beijing, stress strong ties after Trump visit
• 65Trump announces three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
• 62Putin attends Victory Day parade on Red Square
• 55Putin arrives in China for state visit after Trump's departure
• 42Xi welcomes Putin to China, criticizes Western-led world order

The war with Ukraine continues with reciprocal strikes: Ukraine launches its largest drone attack on Moscow in over a year, killing three, while Russia hits Kyiv with massive missile and drone strikes, killing four. A temporary ceasefire takes effect on Victory Day, but Russia warns foreigners to leave Kyiv and threatens more strikes.

• 58Romania says Russian drone hit block of flats in Galati area
• 55Ukraine launches largest drone attack on Moscow in over a year, killing three
• 42Russia hits Kyiv with massive missile and drone strike, killing four
• 41Russia holds scaled-down Victory Day parade as temporary ceasefire takes effect
• 25Putin says Ukraine conflict heading towards end, meeting with Zelensky possible

Domestic society is marked by Victory Day as a sacred holiday, with Putin and Peskov emphasizing unity against external threats, while protests by Femen and Pussy Riot at the Venice Biennale highlight international dissent. Russia tightens border control due to an Ebola outbreak in Africa and develops a vaccine for a new strain.

• 7Video. Italy: Femen and Pussy Riot protest Russia’s return to Venice Biennale
• 6Putin and Peskov Mark Victory Day as Sacred Holiday
• 3Rospotrebnadzor tightened control at the Russian border due to the outbreak of Ebola in Africa
• 3Protesters in pink balaclavas swarm Russia's pavilion at Venice Biennale and release colored smoke
• 2Heat warning issued for France and Italy