In a surprise address to the nation, Russian President Boris Yeltsin announces his resignation and makes Putin, the prime minister he appointed four months earlier, the acting president. May 7, 2000 — After winning election with about 53% of the vote, Putin is inaugurated for his first four-year term. May 11, 2000 — Tax police raid the offices of NTV, a popular independent broadcaster noted for critical coverage of the Kremlin.
The comments indicated a change of heart from Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who said in November 2023 that the "time is not yet ripe" for ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed desire to cooperate with French President Emmanuel Macron and international community to end war in Ukraine, calling it a “crisis resolution,” French outlet Le Figaro reported on May 5.
The European Union says it is preparing for a possible sudden cessation of Russian gas supplies after the transit contract between Ukraine and the Russian Federation expires at the end of 2024. Source: a briefing in Kyiv by Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy, as reported by European Pravda Simson gave a reminder that the gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine will soon expire, so the EU wants to coordinate its actions on this with Ukraine.