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Blackouts in Spain and Portugal, Putin's new ceasefire proposal - Monday brief

Blackouts in Spain and Portugal, Putin's new ceasefire proposal - Monday brief RBC-Ukraine collage

Russian leader Vladimir Putin proposed a temporary truce in the war on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day “for humanitarian reasons”. The Spanish Interior Ministry declared a state of emergency in the country due to a large-scale power outage.

Read more about what happened on Monday, April 28.

Putin proclaims ceasefire in Ukraine war for May 9 celebrations

Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary truce in the Ukraine war on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day “for humanitarian reasons”.

According to the Kremlin, the truce will last from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. During this time, the Russian side promises to “stop all hostilities.”

This is not the first truce during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. However, they were not fully implemented due to numerous violations from the Russian side.

Major blackout hits Europe: Spain, Portugal, and Andorra left without power

On Monday, April 28, a number of European countries reported large-scale power outages. Millions of people remained without electricity.

Trump calls for permanent ceasefire in Ukraine: White House reacts to Putin's new truce proposal

“The president (Trump - ed.) has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed. And while he remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he is also being realistic as well,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Russia shows North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine for the first time

The footage shows North Korean soldiers participating in the liberation of the Kursk region.

They can be seen moving around the training ground, practicing combat missions. North Korean soldiers are taught to shoot mortars and other weapons. One of the alleged trainers also showed them how to use grenades.

Lavrov sets out Russia's conditions for settling war against Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has voiced Moscow's conditions for settling the war with Ukraine. He demands the neutral status of Ukraine and the recognition of the occupied territories​​​​​​.

Donald Trump calls on Putin to end war and sign deal

"I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it and just go back to life," Trump told reporters as he was leaving New Jersey.

Military spending worldwide hits Cold War record

According to the study, global military spending in 2024 has reached an all-time high of $2.718 trillion, marking a 9.4% increase compared to the previous year. This is the largest annual rise in military spending since the end of the Cold War.

Experts report that over 100 countries increased their defense budgets last year. Governments in most countries are focusing on military needs, often at the expense of other budgetary allocations, which could have serious economic and social consequences for societies in the future.

US State Department responds to North Korea's decision to send troops to Russia

"Third countries, like the DPRK, that have perpetuated the Russia-Ukraine war, bear responsibility... We continue to be concerned by the DPRK's direct involvement in the war. The DPRK's military deployment to Russia and any support provided by the Russian Federation to the DPRK in return must end," the US State Department noted.

Now I run the world: Trump compares his presidential terms

"The first time, I had two things to do — run the country and survive; I had all these crooked guys. And the second time, I run the country and the world," Trump said.