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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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.
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.
Photo for illustrative purposes. A Ukrainian soldier prepares 155mm artillery shells in his fighting position in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 6, 2023. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Ukraine and the U.S. held the first joint inspection of weapons and other military equipment provided by Washington in one of Ukrainian military units, the Defense Ministry reported on Jan. 20.
The Defense Ministry's Internal Audit Service and representatives of the Armed Forces took part in the inspection from the Ukrainian side, joined by employees from the Office of Defense Cooperation of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.
The inspectors examined serial numbers, technical conditions, and proper storage conditions of the weapons, and the results are yet to be established, according to the Defense Ministry. "During the joint work, there were no complaints from the U.S. representatives."
Such joint inspections of U.S.-supplied weapons will continue, the ministry added.
"Ensuring access to storage locations, openness, and systematic joint inspections are concrete measures we are taking to increase transparency and strengthen trust in relations with partners," said Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Yurii Dzhyhyr.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the U.S. Embassy agreed on extended monitoring of the final use of U.S.-delivered weapons in November last year to ensure Washington's requirements for recipient states of such weapons are met.
"Certain types of missiles, launcher systems, drones, and night vision devices provided by American partners are manufactured using sensitive technologies and therefore require careful monitoring and special storage conditions. The procedure for joint monitoring has been agreed upon for these types of weapons," Dzhyhyr said on Dec. 14, as cited by the Defense Ministry.
In July 2023, the Defense Ministry said that a U.S. inspection of military equipment delivered to Ukraine hadn't found any violations, debunking claims about possible cases of misuse of U.S.'s weapons.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
