Ukraine, Serbia, US Sanctions, and Tech Developments

The Slovakian parliament voted against a resolution that would have condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine. The resolution, put forward by the opposition, failed to garner the necessary votes to pass. While 65 deputies supported the measure, six opposed it, and 71 abstained. A minimum of 76 votes were needed for the resolution to be approved by the 150-member National Council.

Serbia's potential participation in Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9th has raised concerns within the European Union. European officials have indicated that such a visit could jeopardize Serbia's prospects of joining the EU, as it would be seen as a violation of the bloc's membership standards. One official stated that such decisions have consequences, including the potential exclusion from the European Union.

Reports suggest that Russia may be seeking an end to the war in Ukraine, a view shared by some in the United States. The potential for an economic partnership with the United States is cited as a possible motivation. However, a ceasefire is considered a prerequisite for any such developments.

OpenAI is reportedly developing its own social network, potentially positioning itself as a competitor to existing platforms. The company is said to be testing a prototype that integrates a social feed with its image generation capabilities within ChatGPT.

Regarding trade, the White House has indicated that the onus is on China to negotiate a deal with the United States.

President Biden is scheduled to address Americans, marking his first public appearance since leaving office. The speech is expected to address issues and potentially counter criticisms from his predecessor.

A top advisor to the US Defense Secretary has been removed from the Pentagon following an investigation into leaks.

The United States has removed a close associate of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban from its sanctions list. The State Department cited that the continued sanctions contradicted US foreign policy interests.

The United States has stated that it will not engage in any bilateral agreements with Russia or ease sanctions until a ceasefire is achieved in Ukraine.