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 State Bureau of Investigation completed its investigation into the Brovary helicopter crash in January that killed 15 people, including Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, confirming the conclusions of an initial report in August.
The materials are open for review by involved parties and will be subsequently handed over to the court, the bureau said in a statement on Nov. 27. Foreign experts were also involved in the investigation, including French manufacturers of the helicopter.
In line with earlier findings, the investigators concluded that the helicopter flew in bad weather without a permit and without data on meteorological conditions.
Five officials of the State Emergency Service were arrested in August in connection to the deadly Jan. 18 crash that damaged a local kindergarten.
All 10 people aboard the helicopter, as well as four women and a young child who were on the ground, were killed, the Bureau reported. Some 31 people were injured, including children.
The head of the Emergency Service's Department of Aviation and Air Search and Rescue, its acting commander, the commander of the aviation squadron, the deputy commander for flight training, and the head of the flight safety service of a special aviation unit were charged with safety violations and negligence.
The Aviation and Air Search and Rescue department head and one of the suspects, Ivan Korobka, refuted the accusations.
The suspects face prison terms of up to 10 years.
Daria Shulzhenko
