Russia - Ukraine Talks in Istanbul Thursday: Will Russian President Attend? + Calm in Kashmir Border Region as Ceasefire Holds + US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander Freed After 580 Days in Hamas Captivity + More

For review:

1. Russia - Ukraine Talks in Istanbul Thursday: Will Russian President Attend? In what may have been a surprise for the Russian leader, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy responded by accepting the invitation, saying he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey on 15 May.

2. President Trump said he might take a detour during his Mideast trip to visit Turkey for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on 15 May.

3.  Calm in Kashmir Border Region as Ceasefire Holds. Indian and Pakistani authorities said Monday there was no firing reported overnight along the heavily militarized region between their countries, the first time in recent days the two nations were not shooting at each other. 

4. US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander Freed from 580 Days in Hamas Captivity. 

5. NATO’s top military officer (Admiral Giuseppe Dragone - Italy) said he has no indication yet that the United States will withdraw forces committed to the alliance’s defense plans and shift them to the Indo-Pacific.

6.  NATO must make drastic changes to its electromagnetic warfare (EW) capabilities if the alliance wants to win a future war against Russia.

7. President Donald Trump’s plan to “temporarily” transform a Boeing 747 originally owned by Qatar’s royal family into a new Air Force One plane has come under fire from congressional Democrats.