As bombs continue to fall and suicide drones fly over Ukraine, the United States continues its mediation to achieve a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev. However, benefiting from it. One of the key points for Trump is the Ukrainian rare earths exploitation agreement, which has led to a new clash with Zelensky.
"I think Zelensky, by the way, is trying to withdraw from the rare earths agreement, and if he does, he will have very serious problems," emphasized the Republican to the press. "He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that, so if he seeks to renegotiate the agreement, he will face major problems," stated the US president.
Rare earths and critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, graphite, and nickel, play a key role in the manufacturing of a wide range of technological products, from semiconductors for defense systems to solar panels or batteries for electric vehicles.
Russia claims Ukraine attacked more energy infrastructure
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Monday that Ukraine had attacked Russian energy facilities in the Bryansk region over the past 24 hours, despite the moratorium on attacks on each other's energy infrastructure, as reported by Reuters.
These intentional attacks demonstrate Ukraine's total inability to reach agreements, the ministry affirmed.
Chinese Foreign Minister travels to Moscow for talks overshadowed by Western actions on Ukraine
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Moscow on Monday to meet with his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in a visit overshadowed by Western actions on Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.
Wang is scheduled to meet with Lavrov on Tuesday, days after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire following a conversation between US President Donald Trump and the leaders of both countries. It remains to be seen when this truce will take effect, how long it will last, and what objectives will be beyond its reach.
Trump lashed out at Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, expressing his frustration with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Although Trump insisted to the press that "we are making a lot of progress," he acknowledged that "there is tremendous hatred" between them. He was "angry and upset" because Putin questioned Zelenskyy's credibility. Trump's comments, which have usually been positive towards Putin, also came amid signs of a rift between the United States and its NATO allies, including Canada, with whom it also maintains a trade war.
Russia strikes Kharkiv for the second consecutive night
Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine for the second consecutive night, injuring three people, causing fires in industrial buildings, and damaging two kindergartens, Ukrainian officials said early Monday, as reported by Reuters. The attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, lasted most of the night and affected the city's largest and oldest district, said Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Emergency teams said they fought a large fire that spread over 3,900 square meters after the attack. The drone attack on the city also damaged 11 apartment buildings, Terekhov said.
Albares states that the G5+ meeting in Madrid aims to build "European sovereignty in security matters"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, stated on Monday that the G5+ meeting in Madrid aims to "continue building European autonomy and sovereignty in security matters," in addition to emphasizing Europe's position in defense of Ukraine, as reported by Servimedia.
This was pointed out by José Manuel Albares in an interview on Telecinco, collected by Servimedia, during which he commented on the meeting held today in Madrid of the G5+ group (also known as Weimar Plus), to address Europe's security and that of Ukraine.
Albares affirmed that "this is probably one of the most important events, if not the most important event in foreign policy and diplomacy that Spain will have this year."
Starmer and Trump discuss bilateral economic agreement and Ukraine over the phone
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke on the phone last night with US President Donald Trump about the bilateral economic agreement they are negotiating and also about the war in Ukraine, reported the official residence of Downing Street, according to Efe.
The conversation began with Trump's well wishes for King Charles III after he was admitted last Thursday to a London clinic for side effects of his undisclosed cancer treatment. Regarding Ukraine, the Prime Minister informed Trump about the discussions held at the meeting held a few days ago in Paris by the Volunteer Coalition in Ukraine, made up of countries that want to ensure a potential peace agreement with Russia, and they agreed on the need to maintain collective pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Más Madrid asks Ayuso to give a leading role to Ukraine and Palestine on May 2nd
Más Madrid has urged the President of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to show institutional support from the Community of Madrid to the Ukrainian and Palestinian people on May 2nd and give them a leading role in the celebration events at the Royal Post Office, as reported by Efe.
In a letter, the spokesperson for Más Madrid in the Assembly, Manuela Bergerot, pointed out that May 2nd commemorates "the feat" of the people of Madrid who rose up against Napoleon Bonaparte's troops to defend their freedom, so she considered that the Madrid celebration cannot take place without denouncing that in Ukraine and Palestine their "sovereignty is at existential risk due to military aggressions and expansionist campaigns, if not directly genocidal, against their population and territory."
Ukraine reports that Russia launched 131 drones and two ballistic missiles overnight
The Ukrainian Air Force said on Monday that Russia launched 131 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles during overnight attacks, as reported by Reuters.
The Air Force shot down 57 drones, and another 45 did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures, they said. The military did not specify what happened to the remaining 29 drones.
Russia claims to have shot down 66 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones overnight, as reported on Monday by the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to Reuters.
Forty-one drones were destroyed over the border region of Bryansk, 24 over the territory of the Kaluga region, and one over the territory of the Kursk region.
The regional governors of Bryansk and Kaluga reported on social media that no damage occurred as a result of the attacks.
Robles meets with the European Defense Commissioner on Monday to analyze the situation in Ukraine
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, will meet on Monday with the European Defense Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, at a time considered crucial for cooperation in favor of peace in Ukraine, as well as for joint work to address global threats within the framework of the European Union (EU), reported Europa Press.
Thus, Robles has highlighted the importance of maintaining direct contact, especially in these moments of "strong impetus for the 'Defense Union,' a matter of great importance given the security challenges of the current international context," as reported by the Ministry of Defense in a statement on Sunday.
The Government has reiterated that a just and lasting peace for Ukraine is a priority, as well as a strong commitment to the Spanish Defense industry to contribute to a common project to make the EU more solid and resilient.