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.
The logo of the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank is seen at one of its branches in Lviv on Nov. 3, 2021. (Mykola Tys/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Ukrainian authorities are considering retroactively raising taxes for banks' surplus profits to over 50% for 2023, as worries about the next year's budget grow, Forbes reported on Nov. 13, citing undisclosed sources.
The plan, proposed by the Finance Ministry and backed by Ukraine's central bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), could bring further Hr 24 billion ($663 million) to the 2024 budget, Forbes reported.
Additional finances are especially vital now as agreements on financial aid from the U.S. and the EU have not yet been finalized.
The Ukrainian parliament approved in the first reading on Oct. 19 a draft law increasing the income tax for banks from 18% to 36% during the 2024-2025 period, hoping to raise an additional Hr 10 billion ($276 million) in state revenues per year.
However, authorities worry that this financial boost may not be enough and therefore look to tax as much as 52%-54% of the banks' profits in their "mega-successful" year 2023, though the exact rate is still being decided, Forbes reported.
The proposal was rejected in the parliament earlier, with lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak saying that taxes "cannot be introduced retroactively."
Growing budget anxieties have seemed to convince officials that cutting some corners may be necessary.
"We have no choice, everything is very difficult with finances," a member of the parliamentary finance committee told Forbes.
The authors of the plan reportedly also considered changing the taxation for the following years. The 36% tax rate for the next two years may replaced by a 25% rate on a more long-term basis, the sources told Forbes.
The parliament passed the state budget for 2024 on Nov. 9, setting revenues at Hr 1.77 trillion ($49 billion) and expenses at Hr 3.35 trillion ($93 billion). Almost half of the budget was allocated to defense needs.
Russia's ongoing war made Ukraine more reliant on foreign aid. Support from the leading donors – the U.S. and the EU – is currently being stalled by internal political infighting.
While the EU's $53 billion in financial assistance is being stalled by Hungary, future U.S. support faces challenges from the hard-line faction of the Republican Party.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Dominic Culverwell
