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.
Lawmaker Oleksandr Dubinsky is being investigated for a leisure trip abroad during wartime, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and State Bureau of Investigation (DBP) stated on Aug. 3.
The authorities believe he traveled under the pretext of accompanying his father for medical treatment outside of Ukraine. However, his father went abroad without his son and returned to Ukraine before the lawmaker.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, his trip became public when a Ministry of Health document requesting his permission to travel was leaked. He was supposed to return by July 10, but at the end of July was featured in an Instagram post by his girlfriend who was on holiday in Barcelona.
The SBI stated that it is also investigating Dubinsky for forgery, as several official documents were signed while the lawmaker was abroad.
Dubinsky said the charges were politically motivated and that the authorities were "cynically interfering in the personal life of my family."
Dubinsky is an independent MP. He was removed from President Volodymyr Zelensky Servant of the People party in 2021 for "violating the statute and disobeying the party's governing bodies."
"The accusations voiced are completely far-fetched and are designed to stop my opposition activities," he wrote on Telegram.
Dubinsky referred to the case of Andriy Derkach, a pro-Kremlin lawmaker, who was charged with high treason and illicit enrichment in October 2023.
"After I gave testimony to the NABU in the Derkach treason case and the participation of senior state officials in this case, illegal searches were carried out at my place, the purpose of which was to find any compromising evidence that could be used to discredit me," Dubinsky added.
According to the authorities, Derkach received funds from a Russian intelligence agency to create private security firms that Russia planned to use for capturing Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped him of his Ukrainian citizenship along with three other Russia-affiliated former politicians in January 2023.
Elsa Court
