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.
Ex-Deputy Interior Minister Oleksandr Gogilashvili speaks at a briefing on Oct. 30, 2020 in Kyiv. Gogilashvili resigned on Dec. 13, 2021 after a video of his altercation with police went viral. (mvs.gov.ua)
Deputy Interior Minister Oleksandr Gogilashvili submitted his resignation after a video surfaced of him yelling insults at police officers trying to establish his identity.
The Cabinet of Ministers accepted Gogilashvili's resignation on Dec. 13 after President Volodymyr Zelensky urged them to dismiss the official.
Gogilashvili caused the scandal on Dec. 8 as he was leaving eastern Donetsk Oblast. Police pulled him over and asked for his ID. The deputy minister became incensed and verbally attacked the officers for not recognizing him.
An 11-minute-long video of the incident was posted to YouTube on Dec. 11. It immediately attracted public controversy and earned a reprimand from Zelensky.
News outlet Ukrainska Pravda later reported that this wasn't the first time that Gogilashvili has yelled at the cops and published a similar video from late November, where he's seen insulting police who pulled him over in Kyiv.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/dynILzbyoZg
In a Facebook statement on Dec. 11, the now former deputy minister apologized for his "excessive emotionality."
Gogilashvili had held his deputy minister job since September 2019. According to the ministry's website, his role involved fighting against drug trafficking.
Gogilashvili's wife, Maria Levchenko, has been a longtime adviser to Zelensky, since before he went into politics, Ukrainian media reported.
The Center for Journalist Investigations reported on Dec. 12 that Gogilashvili has had a valid Russian passport since 2003, something he had not previously disclosed.
Sergiy Slipchenko is a staff writer at the Kyiv Independent. He studied at York University in Toronto, Canada and worked as a reporter at the Kyiv Post.
