ASIA III

TAIWAN

Trump Yet to Make a Decision on Taiwan Aid Package

A day after hearing a stern message from his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump on the penultimate day, May 15, 2026, of his three-day [May 13-15, 2026] China trip said that he had yet to make up his mind whether to go ahead with the $11.5 billion weapons package that the U.S. government had announced with much fanfare on December 18, 2025. 

However, Trump administration officials are not talking in unison as far as Taiwan vis-a-vis China policy is concerned as the administration's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, has told the NBC News that U.S. policy remains unchanged and it will be a mistake for Beijing to forcibly take over Taiwan. 

ISRAEL II

Netanyahu Reported to Have Secretly Visited UAE in the Midst of War
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on May 13, 2026 acknowledged that the prime minister had secretly visited UAE and met with President Sheikh Mohmad bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the midst of the Israeli-U.S. war with Iran. The revelation by the PMO came a day after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Israel had offered Iron Dome defense technology and personnel to UAE to defend against incoming Iranian missiles and drones. 

Israel Kills the Last of Surviving Hamas Architects of Oct 7 Attack

Israel carried out airstrikes to kill Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of Hamas' military wing, one of the last surviving members of the leadership structure that had planned, organized and executed the October 7, 2023, audacious attack on Israel. Hamas on May 16, 2026 confirmed al-Haddad's death. It added that the May 15, 2026, Israeli attack killed, in addition to Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the wife and daughter of the Qassam Brigades' commander. 

FORMER SOVIET STATES--PART II

 
UKRAINE

Trump Announces Three-day Truce Around Victory Day Weekend

President Donald Trump on May 8, 2026 bragged about how he had brought Ukraine and Russia to agree to a three-day [May 9-11, 2026] truce that would herald in "beginning of the end" of the war. The U.S. president added that in addition to a three-day ceasefire, there would be exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin Foreign Affairs Adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the agreement. 

Meanwhile, in a derogatory manner, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 8, 2026 issued a decree, giving permission to the Kremlin to hold annual "Victory Day" parade at the Red Square and assuring that there won't be any attack on the Red Square during the most celebrated Russian secular holiday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shrugged off Zelenskyy's proclamation, calling it a silly joke.

Russia Pummels 20 Regions of Ukraine with Hundreds of Drones

After a tenuous, three-day ceasefire [May 9-11, 2026] barely held with allegations and complaints of violations by both sides, Russia was alleged to have launched the largest barrage of daytime attacks on May 13, 2026, targeting 20 regions with more than 800 drones. At least six people were killed.

Russia's Largest Barrage Kills at least Two Dozens

Russia extended the May 13, 2026, streak of day attacks with the largest barrage of missile strikes on May 14, 2026 that had taken a heavy toll on Kyiv, flattening a none-story residential apartment complex and destroying other structures. At least 24 people were reported killed. On May 15, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led a shocked nation in mourning over the loss of so many lives.