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.
A gate that reads Residential Area is seen leading into a prisoner of war detention camp in Lviv on Aug. 3, 2023 (Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
Ukraine has allocated Hr 34.05 million ($908,000) from the reserve fund of the Justice Ministry to repair a prisoner of war (POW) camp for Russian soldiers, the government reported on Jan. 23.
Ukraine is a signatory of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which stipulates that POWs must be treated humanely and be housed in decent conditions away from the combat zone.
Under the Geneva Convention, POWs must be housed in camps that provide access to religious needs, intellectual diversions, and sports facilities. The detention of POWs in prison cells is prohibited.
Before allocating the money, the government declared that during martial law, costs related to POWs may be funded from the state budget reserve fund.
The government said the funding will allow the buildings in one of the camps to be repaired, increasing the camp's capacity.
Chief Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in April 2023 that Russian treatment of Ukrainian POWs does not impact how Ukraine treats Russian POWs after alleged executions of captive Ukrainian soldiers appeared online.
"Ukraine fully complies with the Geneva Conventions," Lubinets told RFE/RL. "My employees regularly come there as well as representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, international experts, even international journalists."
Russian captives can also talk to their relatives regularly, Lubinets said, in contrast with Ukrainian POWs in Russia, who "do not even have the opportunity to write a letter."
"We show as openly as possible that we are different from Russia, we keep our obligations, we protect the rights of prisoners of war, even those who came to kill us," Lubinets said.
Alexander Khrebet
