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.
The shooting occurred around 3:22 p.m. local time in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a residential area in Bucha district, according to the Kyiv regional police.
The flags of the European Union and Ukraine outside the EU Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium, on Feb. 24, 2023. Photo for illustrative purposes (Ksenia Kuleshova/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The EU Council agreed on May 13 to extend the suspension of export tariffs for Ukraine and Moldova for another year, the council's press service said.
The EU's trade liberalization policies toward Ukraine have caused tension in some member states and led to widespread protests in Poland, with smaller-scale demonstrations occurring in Romania and Hungary.
Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski said in January that he was "fundamentally opposed" to prolonging the EU's free trade regime with Ukraine, calling instead for a "gradual, mutual liberalization."
The two new measures, which may serve to mitigate some of Poland's opposition to the free-trade regime, will allow for "regular monitoring" and the imposition of quotas if the level of exports of key agricultural and food products exceeds that of the previous three years.
The extension of the measures "reaffirms the EU’s unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine," the press release read.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal thanked the council for the decision and said it "brings Ukraine and Europe even closer together."
The extension will run from June 6, 2024, to June 5, 2025.
