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.
Several drone types used by Russia against Ukraine, including the Orlan-10, Granat-3 , Shahed-136, and Eleron-3-SV, are seen during a media briefing of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 15, 2022 (STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces shot down all 14 Shahed drones launched from Russia overnight, Ukraine's Air Force reported on Nov. 22.
In addition, Russia launched a Kh-22 cruise missile at Ukraine, which failed to hit its target and fell in an open area of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Air Force said. The blast wave damaged residential buildings but did not cause any casualties.
The drones were launched from near the Russian city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Krasnodar Krai, on the Sea of Azov.
Four of the Shahed drones were shot down as they headed in the direction of the Kyiv and Zhytomyr oblasts, and another reconnaissance drone was targeted by Ukraine's air defenses in Sumy Oblast, said Joint Forces Commander Serhii Naiev.
The Air Force added that air defenses in several other regions were involved in repelling the attacks, including Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.
Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Oleg Sukhov
