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.
An aftermath of Russia's drone attack in Odesa overnight on April 23. (Odesa Oblast Military Administration/ Oleh Kiper)
Russian forces struck Odesa with drones overnight, damaging residential buildings, and wounding nine people, including four children, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported on April 23.
Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 15 of the 16 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported in the morning.
One of the downed drones fell on Odesa's residential area, damaging houses, shops and other infrastructure, according to Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces.
Nine Odesa residents suffered injuries, including two children aged 12 and 9 and two infants, according to the latest update by Kiper.
The Russian drones were launched from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea and Kursk Oblast, which borders Ukraine. Russia also launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Belgorod region. The Air Force provided no information as to the outcome of the Russian missile launch.
The drones were intercepted over Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kyiv, and Cherkasy oblasts. Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force and anti-aircraft missile units repelled the attack, the Air Force reported.
Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv at around 3:35 a.m. local time on April 23 amid an air raid alert in the capital. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that all aerial targets were destroyed by air defense. No casualties or damages were reported in the city.
Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. On April 22, Ukrainian air defense units destroyed five of the seven Shahed-type drones, as well as one Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone.
Kateryna Denisova
