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.
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.
Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss meet at Kyiv's Boryspil airport, Ukraine, on March 25, 2024. (Martin Gauss / X)
Latvian airline Air Baltic plans to resume flights to Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa as soon as Ukraine's airspace reopens, the airline announced on March 26 after a visit to Kyiv's Boryspil airport.
The skies over Ukraine have been closed to civilian aviation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, meaning that passenger transport in or out of the country is only possible via road or rail.
Air Baltic CEO Martin Gauss said that he met with Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov at Boryspil on March 25, along with the Boryspil management team and the team of Lviv airport.
The Air Baltic delegation inspected the airport's infrastructure, equipment, and ability to resume flights.
"Impressive preparations have been made, and Boryspil International Airport is renewed and ready to welcome millions of passengers again," Gauss said on X.
"We presented our plans to reconnect Ukraine with the world by air and as soon as the airspace is open and safe."
The Air Baltic delegation at Kyiv's Boryspil airport on March 25, 2024. (Boryspil Airport)
"Air Baltic will contribute to the rebuilding of Ukraine's aviation," Gauss said.
Boryspil airport said that Air Baltic "is planning to launch flights to Kyiv, Lviv, followed by flights to Odesa, connecting these cities with the Baltic capitals and major European cities via Riga."
According to the airport, Air Baltic operated 3,644 flights from Boryspil between 2019 and 2021, carrying 285,600 passengers.
Low-cost airline Ryanair announced in July 2023 its plans to return to the Ukrainian market within eight weeks of Ukrainian air space reopening.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary announced that his company plans to open 75 routes from Europe to Ukraine once the airspace is declared safe.
Ryanair was the second-largest airline operating in Ukraine prior to the beginning of the full-scale invasion, after Ukraine International Airlines, according to O'Leary.
Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.
Dominic Culverwell
