U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed their countries' relationship on May 8, vowing to increase cooperation in all areas, including military ties.
"There is Turkey, which maintains channels of communication. And then, above all, there is the People's Republic of China, which, more than anyone else, has the means to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin come to the negotiating table and soften his demands," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on May 8.
The United States will be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on May 8.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
US President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed his hope for "an acceptable ceasefire," with both countries "held accountable for respecting the sanctity of... direct negotiations."
President Volodymyr Zelensky had a "constructive" phone call with United States President Donald Trump on May 8, discussing the war, continued pressure on Russia, and a potential ceasefire.
The survey, conducted between April 24 and May 4, shows that 56.9% of respondents would not be willing to compromise on either territorial integrity or Ukraine’s pro-Western direction in any potential talks with Moscow.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in nine Ukrainian oblasts – Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
According to local authorities, two civilians were killed, and 22 more were injured in the Russian attacks.
Russian forces used mortars, tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), small arms, grenade launchers, anti-aircraft missile systems, drones, and tactical aviation to strike 161 settlements, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center said on May 12.
According to the media center, 179 infrastructure facilities have been hit.
In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed in Sloviansk, and 12 more people in the region were wounded, according to Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russian attacks against Ukraine's eastern region damaged multiple houses and a school, said Kyrlenko.
Russian forces used MLRS and artillery to attack Kharkiv Oblast, injuring a 16-year-old girl and three more women, said Governor Oleh Syniehubov. According to the governor, the damages include a local market, at least eight houses, an administrative building, an educational institution, and public transport.
Russian troops struck Kherson Oblast in Ukraine's south 80 times, firing 339 rounds from various weapons, according to the regional administration. The attacks reportedly killed one civilian and wounded four more in the region, as well as hit residential areas, a school, a hospital, and two critical infrastructure facilities.
Late on May 11, Russia launched an air strike on Chernihiv Oblast's village of Arkhypivka not far from the Ukrainian-Russian border late, injuring two civilians and destroying three houses, Ukraine's Northern Operational Command reported.
Stanislav Storozhenko
