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.
As the security crisis between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, Turkey is reportedly ready to sell Kyiv at least two dozen more Bayraktar TB2 attack drones, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 3.
Moreover, the Istanbul-based manufacturer Baykar Makina has sold Ukraine many more attack drones than previously disclosed, according to Bloomberg.
The company's representatives and the Turkish government declined to say how many drones were sold to Ukraine to date.
According to official figures, Ukraine's military currently operates a total of 12 Bayraktak TB2s, which are used for reconnaissance missions close to the war zone of Donbas.
Kyiv-based think tank Defense Express cast doubt on the Bloomberg story, saying the short-term sale of two dozen drones is unlikely.
So far, Turkey has sold a dozen Bayrakhtars to Ukraine. Six of these, plus three control stations, and a number of guided missiles cost Ukraine nearly $70 million in 2019. According to the think tank, Ukraine planned on allocating funds to buy two or three new Bayraktar TB2 systems in 2022.
On Oct. 26, one of the Turkish-made drones successfully performed its combat debut in Donbas by silencing a D-30 field gun operated by Russian-led militants. The drone strike was authorized in retaliation for artillery attacks that killed a Ukrainian soldier and injured two.
Ukraine's first-ever use of killer drones in combat triggered an uproar and a strong reaction from the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putin of Russia had expressed his dissatisfaction to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a Dec. 3 phone call, Bloomberg reported.
Ukraine's top military commander, Lieutenant General Valerii Zaluzhniy, said the country's military wants at least 24 Bayraktars, and that a new contract might be coming in 2021 or 2022.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Turkey are working on launching a Bayraktar drone production line in Ukraine, in a bid to meet the skyrocketing demand for the vehicles across the world, following their successful combat performance in Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan, and eastern Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine and Turkey have already registered a legal entity and purchased a plot of land for the new drone factory, which is expected to be launched in full swing by the end of 2022.
Ukraine now faces a growing threat from Russia, which has amassed nearly 100,000 troops near its border and in occupied territories. The U.S. and its European allies warned that a large-scale Russian invasion is likely in late January or early February.
According to multiple media reports, the U.S. and other Western countries are considering providing Ukraine with advanced weapons like MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, Harpoon shipwreck missiles, or FIM-92 Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft weapons that could help Ukraine's military cripple Russia's invasion force.
