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.
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.
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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
On March 1, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi expressed his concern about the more than three-week delay in rotating the team of agency experts currently stationed at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
“This is a concerning trend that shows the urgency and importance of establishing a nuclear safety and security protection zone at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Grossi said, adding that nuclear safety was in everyone's best interest.
Since the beginning of March 2022, the Zaporizhzhia plant has been under the control of Russian troops, who have utilized it as a military base and launched assaults on Ukraine. Russian troops have repeatedly terrorized the Ukrainian workers at the plant with violence and threats in an effort to get them to cooperate.
IAEA experts have been monitoring the situation at the nuclear power plant since September. According to Grossi's report, IAEA experts have seen an increasing number of Russian security personnel in the past few weeks.
The number of employees has dropped from around 10,000 before the Russian occupation to 3,000 or less, making it more difficult to operate the nuclear power plant, according to Grossi.
The IAEA team reported that on Feb. 25, the plant's 330 kV back-up powerline was disconnected due to nearby military activity. It was briefly restored but lost again later that morning. The powerline was reconnected the following day.
Despite the difficult situation on the ground, Grossi expressed his relief that the primary reservoir which is a crucial source of cooling water for the plant has experienced more or less consistent water levels.
Russia has been deliberately draining the Kakhovka Reservoir for several weeks, posing a threat to locals' water supply and agriculture in the region. The Kakhovka Reservoir is also a source for cooling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
