1. Russia has declared a two-day unilateral ceasefire in its conflict with Ukraine to mark the anniversary on May 9 of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The Russian defense ministry revealed on social media on Monday that the truce, set for May 8 and 9, follows a directive from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ministry added that it expects Kyiv to follow suit.
2. Pope Leo XIV is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday, amid a diplomatic rift with the administration of President Donald Trump. The Holy See announced the meeting on Monday. The US State Department says Rubio will travel to Rome from Wednesday through Friday, and meet with Holy See leadership to discuss issues including the situation in the Middle East.
3. The US Secret Service says an armed man opened fire near the White House on Monday, injuring a bystander. The Secret Service says that its agents spotted a suspicious individual near the Washington Monument, a tourist landmark in the US capital, on Monday afternoon.