Ukraine war latest: Putin welcomes Xi Jinping at biggest Victory Day parade in years – as Ukraine says it has uncovered ‘spy ring’

News Snapshot:

Merz sees weekend 'opportunity' to extend temporary ceasefire in Ukraine after call with Trump By Katy Scholes, security and defence producer Germany's new chancellor says this weekend presents an opportunity to extend the existing three-day ceasefire unilaterally announced by Vladimir Putin to mark Russia's Victory Day. During a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friedrich Merz told reporters he was "grateful" for a call with Donald Trump, who informed him about Washington's proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. That suggestion is yet to be accepted by Putin, whose brief ceasefire is due to elapse at...