(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.
The European Council sanctioned an additional 11 individuals and 7 entities linked to Russia's Wagner mercenary group on Feb. 25.
The Wagner Group is currently involved in Russia's offensive operations in the east of Ukraine, fighting alongside the Russian regular army.
The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a statement that Wagner is a threat to "international peace and security as they do not operate within any legal framework. The EU is determined to continue taking tangible action against breaches to international law."
Eight of the individuals and the seven entities were listed under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for human rights abuses in the Central African Republic and Sudan. One individual was listed under the Mali sanctions regime for "threatening the peace, security, or stability of Mali" and two others for "undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine."
According to the press release, the two Wagner-linked individuals sanctioned for their actions in Ukraine were involved in the capture of Soledar, Donetsk Oblast, in January 2023.
As a result of the sanctions, all 11 individuals are banned from entering or traveling through the EU. Furthermore, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from doing business with them.
The U.S. has previously accused Russian mercenaries of exploiting natural resources in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, and elsewhere to fund its military aggression against Ukraine.
On Feb. 21, the Financial Times reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, earned $250 million in assets over the past four years from oil, gas, diamond, and gold mining in countries such as Sudan and Syria.
Prigozhin and his closest family members have already been put under financial sanctions by a number of countries, including the U.S. and Ukraine in 2022 and the U.K. in 2020.
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