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.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced “the largest yet” new military assistance package for Ukraine, worth over $3 billion and including long-awaited Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, on Jan. 6.
At a separate Pentagon press briefing an hour later, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper gave further details on the content of the package.
Ukraine will be provided with 50 Bradleys equipped with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition. These vehicles will "further enhance Ukraine's ability to complex maneuvers in almost all weather conditions and terrain, especially in the south and the east of the country," Cooper said.
The package also includes 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, which Ukraine already operates, 55 mine-resistant vehicles, 138 HMMWV vehicles, 18 M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers, and 36 105mm towed howitzers.
The U.S.' new artillery commitment is backed by more ammunition, with 90,000 105mm and 70,000 155mm rounds, as well as 500 precision-guided 155mm rounds.
Further deliveries include surface-to-air missiles, anti-vehicle land mines, further HIMARS rockets, support vehicles, mortar and small arms ammunition, and more.
The aid will also include $225 million “in foreign military financing for Ukraine to build the long-term capacity and modernization of Ukraine’s military.”
On Twitter, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for the “completely new weaponry.”
“I welcome the largest U.S defense aid package yet,” Zelensky wrote.
“It will strengthen the Ukrainian army on a battlefield. Awesome Christmas present for Ukraine! Together with the U.S. people, we're approaching a common victory!” he wrote.
“Now our soldiers will have even more weapons, equipment, shells, and defense systems, which will make us much more prepared for any escalating plans of Russia and those strikes that the terrorist state inflicts, regardless of whether it is a holiday or a weekday,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 6.
The announcement comes three weeks after Zelensky delivered a historic address before U.S. Congress on Dec. 21, during his first trip overseas since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24.
“Your money is not charity. It is an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way,” Zelensky said back then.
The U.S. and Germany announced more military aid to Ukraine following U.S. President Joe Biden's phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In coordination with the delivery of the 50 Bradleys, Berlin greenlighted the shipment of its Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
On Jan. 6, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that the American-made Patriot air defense battery will be delivered to Ukraine from Germany's inventory in the first quarter of 2023.
Earlier in the day, the White House also announced new sanctions on Iran's aviation and defense sector for supplying the drones Russia uses to bomb Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.
The sanctions will affect six executives and board members of Iran's top defense contractor, Qods Aviation Industries, as well as the director of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization overseeing its ballistic missile program, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
