Foreign Affairs

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, secured victory in the May 18 parliamentary election with 89 seats, falling short of the 116 needed for a majority in the 230-seat legislature.

Poland's presidential election will proceed to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in the first round.

Nicușor Dan, the centrist and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, has won Romania's presidential election, defeating right-wing nationalist George Simion with 53.8% of the vote.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated a large-scale ground operation in Gaza, aiming to dismantle Hamas's military and governance structures.

On May 17, 2025, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly accused President Donald Trump of dishonesty regarding his stated intentions for peace in the Middle East.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that President Donald Trump wants to reestablish stronger business ties with China, even as the administration prioritizes rebuilding America’s manufacturing base. His remarks came during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he addressed the challenges small businesses face in sourcing American-made goods.

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said Afrikaner refugees fleeing South Africa for the U.S. are making a “mistake,” downplaying fears of land seizures and racial violence that have led tens of thousands to seek asylum. His remarks were made at a farming convention and reported by The Sunday Times.

Russia carried out its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022, launching 273 explosive drones and decoys overnight into Sunday. The unprecedented assault followed failed peace talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, which ended without a ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in an effort to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, describing the mission as “STOPPING THE ‘BLOODBATH.’” The announcement, made Saturday via Truth Social, comes just days after failed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to each swap 1,000 prisoners. The decision was reached during peace talks that lasted less than two hours.