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.
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.
Photo for illustrative purposes. Archive photo: Metal wreckage lie in front of civilian houses on Nov. 20, 2022 in Snihurivka, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Yurii Tynnyi/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Russian strikes against Mykolaiv Oblast on Jan. 3 wounded five people, including a 15-year-old girl, the regional governor Vitalii Kim said on national television.
At around 5:45 p.m. local time, three Russian S-300 missiles hit Snihurivka, around 60 kilometers east of Mykolaiv, according to Kim.
The attack reportedly injured a woman, two male security guards of a warehouse with humanitarian aid, and the teenage girl.
“She is in severe condition, and we are now transporting her to the city,” Kim added.
Earlier the same day, Ivan Kukhta, the head of the Snihurivka’s military administration, said several explosions were heard at an enterprise on the town’s outskirts.
He didn’t provide any details on the nature of the affected enterprise.
On the morning of Jan. 3, Russian troops shelled Ochakiv and Kutsurub on the Black Sea coast, wounding an elderly woman, Kim said on TV.
Mykolaiv Oblast is regularly targeted by Russian strikes due to its proximity to the front lines.
Russia has intensified its attacks against civilian and port infrastructure in southern Ukraine following Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Igor Kossov
