Here is a summary of the news from Ukraine:
**Business and Economy**
* Ukraine considering moving away from US dollar and closer to euro as benchmark for hryvnia
* Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Laotian leader Thongloun Sisoulith will not attend Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9
**Security and Defense**
* Russia launches 187 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones and five Iskander-M ballistic missiles
* Strikes trigger heightened alert measures across Moscow Oblast, forcing Russian authorities to enact “Plan Cover”
* SBU reports increased security measures after drone strikes
**International Support**
* European Union ambassadors begin talks on 17th sanctions package targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex
* Germany and France condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine and pledge support for the country
* US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal”
**Other News**
* Ukrainian National Bank Governor Andrii Pyshnyi discusses potential impact of economic sanctions on Russia
* Garrett, a 42-year-old volunteer from the Isle of Man, dies after being killed by an unexploded ordnance while working to clear mines and UXOs in Ukraine.
