(Updated: )Victory Day
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Friday, May 9
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.
Friday, May 9
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.
(Updated: )
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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
“Russia continues to bring death and devastation to Ukraine. It is deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, seeking to paralyze the country at the beginning of the winter. We stand by Ukraine, and we are making Russia pay for its cruelty,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
The European Commission proposed adding almost 200 additional individuals and entities to the EU sanctions list.
These include the Russian armed forces, individual officers and defense companies, members of parliament, ministers, governors, and political parties, among others.
“This list covers key figures in Russia's brutal and deliberate missile strikes against civilians, in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia, and in the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products,” von der Leyen said.
In addition, the European Commission proposed sanctioning three additional Russian banks, including a full transaction ban on the Russian Regional Development Bank, to further paralyze Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's cash cows.
Furthermore, the European Commission wants to impose new export controls and restrictions, particularly for dual-use goods, including chemicals, nerve agents, electronics, and IT components that could be used by the Russian war machine.
Von der Leyen said that the commission would cut Russia's access to all sorts of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, banning the direct exports of drone engines to Russia and the export to any third countries, such as Iran, which could supply drones to Russia.
“We will also target the Russian propaganda machine by taking four additional channels off the air and all other distribution platforms,” she said.
Von der Leyen said that the European Commission had proposed further economic measures against the Russian energy and mining sector, including a ban on new mining investments in Russia.
This package comes on top of the EU import ban on Russian seaborne oil that came into force on Dec. 5.
“International cooperation against Russia's war has never been stronger. We stand united and firm.” the European Commission President said.
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