Berlin

French President Emmanuel Macron will make a three-day state visit to Germany, the first by a French president in 24 years, to demonstrate unity with Germany ahead of the EU elections and amid challenges such as the war in Ukraine.

The Baltic states may send troops to Ukraine if Russia makes a strategic breakthrough due to insufficient Western support.

Scholz is opposed to allowing Ukraine to use German weapons to hit targets in Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz refuses to provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles because of fears of escalation in relations between Russia and NATO.

Germany's initiative to provide Ukraine with air defense systems, including an appeal to allies to provide Patriot anti-aircraft and anti-missile batteries, has not received much support from partner countries due to the high cost and unwillingness to part with much-needed systems.

Germany does not yet recognize an independent Palestinian state, despite the fact that Norway, Spain and Ireland have done so, as it remains committed to the goal of achieving a two-state solution through negotiations within the political process.

Annalena Berbock was awarded the Order of Yaroslav the wise, third class, which the president of Ukraine awarded her at the end of last year by decree.

During the meeting, Zelensky and Berbok separately discussed Ukraine's movement towards EU membership and the organization of the International Conference on the restoration of Ukraine (URC 2024), which will be held in Berlin in June, and coordinated steps to fill it with specific projects.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock arrives in Kyiv on an unannounced visit to assure Ukraine of Germany's continued support despite the escalation of hostilities and to prepare for the Berlin conference on Ukraine's recovery.

Ukraine and Argentina discussed deepening cooperation in strategic areas such as defense, holding a Ukrainian-Argentine business forum, Argentina's potential participation in the Global Peace Summit, and Argentina's assistance in restoring Ukraine's energy and civilian infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.

France and the Netherlands propose that the EU impose sanctions on any financial institution worldwide that helps the Russian military obtain prohibited goods or dual-use technology.

Another IRIS-T air defense system from Germany will arrive in Ukraine in May, in addition to the two Patriot systems already deployed and the third planned, as Germany continues to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

Germany has not done enough to support Ukraine in the war against Russia, and other countries can also do more, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said.

European intelligence agencies are warning of Russian plans for large-scale sabotage across the continent, including explosions, arson and attacks on infrastructure that could lead to civilian casualties, as a new threat emerges involving locals recruited online to attack Western targets.

Activists protested against the expansion of the Tesla plant near Berlin, some of them breaking through fences and clashing with police, resulting in injuries on both sides and several arrests.

Ten people were detained at the May 9 rallies in Berlin for violations such as using St. George's ribbons and insulting police officers.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with German Minister for Development Svenja Schulze to discuss the implementation of joint projects, coordinate work ahead of the Recovery Conference in Berlin in June, and emphasize Ukraine's fruitful cooperation with the German Reconstruction Credit Institution (KfW), which supports small and medium-sized enterprises that are crucial to Ukraine's recovery.

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze's meeting with sacked Ukrainian Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov in Kyiv was canceled after it became known that the Verkhovna Rada had dismissed him.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius asked Switzerland to provide Ukraine with Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, but the outcome is unclear, as Switzerland remains neutral and does not provide weapons to warring countries.

Ukraine celebrates the Day of Reconciliation and Victory over Nazism on May 8, instead of the Soviet Victory Day on May 9, to honor the 9 million Ukrainians who died in World War II, including 5 million civilians and 3-4 million military personnel.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held an online meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Dimitar Glavchev to discuss Ukraine's military needs and Bulgaria's support for Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO.

With German Ambassador Martin Jaeger, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga discussed preparations for the conference on Ukraine's recovery in Berlin and the Inaugural Peace Summit.

Ukraine and Azerbaijan discussed humanitarian cooperation, including Azerbaijan's support in demining Ukrainian land and finalizing updated agreements on combating organized crime and migration policy, during an online meeting between the two countries' interior ministers.

Scholz calls on partners to provide Ukraine with more Patriot air defense systems from their existing stockpiles to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

Germany has recalled its ambassador from russia for consultations amid accusations that Moscow was involved in cyberattacks on German defense, aerospace companies and the ruling party.

Germany will not send representatives to the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 7. Berlin emphasizes that the elections in Russia did not meet democratic standards.

A large-scale fire broke out at Diehl's plant in Berlin, which is involved in the production of air defense systems, but it will not affect the production of IRIS-T air defense systems.

The Berlin authorities are considering giving Goebbels' former villa to the new owners free of charge, who will restore and maintain the complex in good condition, as the maintenance of the Nazi facility requires a lot of money.

A large-scale fire at the Diehl Metal Applications metallurgical plant in Berlin, which develops air defense systems, has led to the release of toxic smoke. Authorities advise residents to stay indoors and close windows.

Germany summoned the russian ambassador after completing an investigation into last year's cyberattack on the SPD server. The investigation found that the hacker group APT28, supported by the Russian state, was behind the attack.