(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.
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German Defense Minister: Military operations on Russian territory 'completely normal'
• 1 min read
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has supported the idea of "limited encroachments" onto Russian territory, such as blocking supply routes, Zeit Online reported on April 21.
Given the circumstances of the war it is "completely normal for (Ukraine) to move into enemy territory, for example, to block supply routes," Pistorius said, as quoted by Zeit.
The only conditions for such attacks would be that no cities, civilians, or civilian areas were targeted.
Pistorius also said that there must be certain limitations on weapons supplied to Ukraine, such as cluster munitions or phosphorus incendiary weapons, given that they are banned by international law.
A survey published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in late February showed that 90% of Ukrainians believed it was necessary to launch strikes on Russian territory.
Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed believed that it was necessary to target military infrastructure, while 39% believed that targeting both military sites and energy infrastructure was necessary.
Thirteen percent of those surveyed called for indiscriminate strikes on Russian territory, as Russia does on Ukraine. Seven percent of those surveyed were against launching retaliatory strikes against Russia, fearing escalation.
The survey noted that the biggest support for launching strikes on Russian territory came from the east of Ukraine, which has suffered the brunt of Russian attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Ukraine war latest: Stoltenberg declares ‘Ukraine’s rightful place’ in NATO, Zelensky demands to know timeframe and ‘concrete steps’
Key developments on April 20: * Stoltenberg meets Zelensky in Kyiv, says ‘Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO’ * Zelensky demands to know timeframe, ‘concrete steps’ needed for NATO membership * Southern military command: Russia received new batch of Iranian Shahed drones * Air Force: Ukraine e…
Asami Terajima
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