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.
The Biden administration is weighing sending Stryker armored vehicles in an upcoming military aid package to Ukraine, expected for Friday, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
The people who spoke to Bloomberg said the U.S. package is part of a broader announcement by Western allies for new military equipment that is set for Jan. 20 during the next meeting of defense ministers at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Politico earlier reported that the U.S. was considering sending Stryker armored combat vehicles to Ukraine in an aid package amid fears of a renewed Russian offensive in spring, Politico reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.
The upcoming U.S. aid package for Ukraine will likely not include American M1 Abrams tanks, according to three undisclosed U.S. officials cited by Politico.
“The Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment,” Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl told reporters at the Pentagon on Jan. 18, Bloomberg reported. “It’s expensive, it’s hard to train on. It has a jet engine. I think it’s about three gallons to the mile of jet fuel. It is not the easiest system to maintain. It may or may not be the right system.”
On Jan. 18, the European Parliament also urged Germany to transfer long-pledged Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine “without further delay,” amid German German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's continued reluctance to give the green light to European countries to provide their German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
But Scholz reportedly told U.S. President Joe Biden that Germany will not send the tanks to Ukraine or allow other countries to send them, unless the U.S. agrees to send its Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed German official.
