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.
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.
Alleged footage of a burning oil terminal in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, on April 24, 2024. (Open sources/X)
A drone attack reportedly damaged energy infrastructure in Russia's Oryol and Kursk Oblasts, local Russian officials reported on May 1.
Governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoyt, announced at around 11:00 p.m. local time that a Ukrainian drone attack damaged power lines in the village of Ponyri, cutting off electricity to the area.
A few hours later, the Governor of the Oryol region, Andrey Klychkov, reported that downed drones damaged energy facilities in the Glazunovsky and Sverdlovsky districts. Power was subsequently disrupted in a number of households.
Energy infrastructure in the Smolensk Oblast was also reportedly targeted by Ukrainian drones, according to regional governor Vasily Anokhin. No damage was reported.
These claims could not be independently verified.
Earlier this month, a fire broke out at an energy facility in Smolensk Oblast following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
