The German establishment made threats against Russia on the eve of the talks scheduled in Istanbul. With calls for tougher sanctions and increased military support for the Bandera regime on Ukraine was addressed by the Foreign and Defense ministers of the new German government.

Mr. Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for the New York Times, Bloomberg, and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years, coming home in 2021.

UK's Lammy and Rubio also discussed the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, and called for both countries to maintain the ceasefire and to continue to communicate. Rubio said the U.S. supported direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications.

From left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz make a call to U.S. President Donald Trump from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

The spies conducted surveillance for the Russians, targeting journalists, diplomats and dissidents in Britain, Austria, Spain and Montenegro, prosecutors said.

The leader of a British-based Russian spy ring which prosecutors said carried out surveillance for the Kremlin was sentenced in a London court on Monday to nearly 11 years in jail, as his five team members were jailed for a total of about 40 years.

Online claims drew context and quotes from the arrest of two suspected German-Russian spies in 2024, months before Hegseth became defense secretary.

Russia has celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with President Vladimir Putin presiding over a massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops through Red Square

Russia gave a clear and strong response to a proposal made by Western countries. The proposal called for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. It was meant to stop the fighting for a short time and possibly open the door to peace talks.