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.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 9, 2024 (Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images)
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen rebuked Hungary over its stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, and its strengthening of political and economic ties with Moscow in comments at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Oct. 9
In what promised to be a heated plenary session, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban had hoped to discuss his country’s plans for the Presidency of the European Council which it currently holds until the end of the year.
Instead, he was confronted by von der Leyen who rebuked several aspects of his country’s stance towards Russia.
"The world has witnessed the atrocities of Russia's war. And yet, there are still some who blame this war not on the invader but the invaded. Not on Putin’s lust for power but on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom," von der Leyen said.
"So I want to ask them, would they ever blame the Hungarians for the Soviet invasion in 1956?" von der Leyen said while looking directly at Orban.
The comment came after a top aide of Orban criticized Ukraine's resistance to Russia's full-scale invasion, calling it "irresponsible" and suggesting his country would have advised against fighting back if it had been asked.
Balazs Orban – no relation to the prime minister – made the comments when discussing Hungary's anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 which was brutally put down by the Red Army.
"Considering 1956, we would have probably not done what President Zelensky did 2.5 years ago, as it is irresponsible, as we can see that he led his country into a defensive war, many lives were lost and territories lost," he said in an interview published Sept. 26.
Orban rejected von der Leyen’s parallel, saying "there is nothing in common between 1956 and the Russian-Ukrainian war."
Von der Layen also criticized Hungary’s scheme to simplify the procedure to grant visas to Russian nationals, describing it as a "backdoor for foreign interference."
Orban dismissed the criticism as "political propaganda."
"I would have been pleased to debate the presidential program but I see you’re not interested," he said.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
