The talks between Russiaand the USA with on revival of Russian gas supplies to Europe are confirmed

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has confirmed that Moscow and Washington have held talks about the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine. Ushakov made the comments to the state-run Interfax news agency following a Reuters report that cited eight sources familiar with the discussions.

“We raise this topic with the Americans, but with whom else, frankly, I don't understand,” Ushakov told Interfax.

According to Reuters, the discussions have included the possibility of restoring Russia’s presence in the European gas market as a bargaining chip in broader peace negotiations. U.S. involvement is seen as a potential way to reduce European political resistance and ensure strategic oversight of Russian energy flows.

Two sources confirmed that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev in St. Petersburg on April 11 to discuss the issue. Although the Russian Direct Investment Fund denied such talks at the time, Ushakov’s statement marks the first official acknowledgment from Moscow.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union drastically reduced its dependence on Russian gas. Russian pipeline gas now makes up only 19% of European supply, down from 45%, and state-owned Gazprom reported a $13.1 billion loss in 2024. Despite diversification efforts, several EU countries—including Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, and France—continue receiving Russian gas via pipelines or long-term LNG contracts.

Still, Brussels remains opposed to any renewed dependence on Russian energy. On May 6, the European Commission unveiled a detailed roadmap to fully sever the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. The plan is described as the EU’s most ambitious to date, targeting Russian gas, oil, and nuclear imports that critics say have long funded the Kremlin’s war machine and undermined European sovereignty.

Putin and Xi Jinping sign agreement to deepen strategic partnership between Russia and China

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed a new agreement on May 8 aimed at further strengthening the "comprehensive strategic partnership" between their two countries. The signing took place at the Kremlin following formal talks during Xi's official visit to Moscow.

Putin praised the bilateral relationship as "self-sustaining" and noted that Russia and China plan to continue expanding the use of national currencies in trade, reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.

The agreement underscores the enduring alignment between Beijing and Moscow, whose leaders declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022—just weeks before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, China has become Russia’s largest trading partner and a key lifeline for its sanctioned economy.

The visit and agreement come amid heightened global scrutiny of China’s support for Russia and growing calls from Western leaders for Beijing to play a constructive role in ending the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin uses World War II myths to justify the war in Ukraine

In the lead-up to Victory Day on May 9, Russian authorities have intensified the use of Soviet-era World War II narratives to justify the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, in a May 8 article, likened Russia’s campaign in Ukraine to the Red Army’s defeat of Nazi Germany, describing it as part of the nation’s “glorious traditions” and claiming that victory in Ukraine is “inevitable.”

ISW analysts note that the Kremlin is deliberately constructing a new pseudo-state ideology grounded in the mythos of Soviet heroism, aimed at galvanizing domestic support and potentially laying ideological groundwork for future aggression against NATO.

Russian state media has echoed this messaging, while senior figures like Dmitry Medvedev have issued warnings to European nations, invoking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany as a veiled threat against continued support for Ukraine.

ISW describes this as part of a broader “reflexive control” strategy—manipulating perceptions to erode Western resolve and disrupt aid to Ukraine.

Russians attacked Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight with drones and artillery, injuring an 83-year-old man and damaging civilian infrastructure, regional governor Serhii Lysak reported on May 9.

The strikes targeted the city of Nikopol and surrounding hromadas including Pokrovske, Chervonohryhorivka, Myrove, and Marhanets. The injured man is being treated on an outpatient basis. A garage and outbuilding caught fire in the attack but were later extinguished by emergency services.

This latest assault adds to a continued pattern of strikes on civilian areas along the Dnipro River, where Russian forces frequently target settlements with indirect fire and loitering munitions.