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.
The shooting occurred around 3:22 p.m. local time in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a residential area in Bucha district, according to the Kyiv regional police.
People being evacuated from flooded areas after the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's dam unleashed floodwaters in Kherson on June 7, 2023. (Photo: Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 11 that the International Criminal Court had already launched an investigation following Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Kherson Oblast on June 6.
According to the president, court representatives have already visited Kherson Oblast and saw “with their own eyes the consequences of this Russian terrorist attack and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues.”
“The most cynical and brutal shelling of the flooded territory continues,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky added that the Ukrainian side is contributing as much as possible to the investigation.
“All our law enforcement officers and other institutions are greatly involved in this process,” Zelensky said. “We provide full access to the affected areas, to witnesses, to all information and evidence. This investigation is very important for the security of the whole world.”
Matti Maasikas, European Union's ambassador to Ukraine, said in an interview with the Freedom TV channel on June 11 that many high-ranking politicians, such as the President of the European Council Charles Michel, and EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell have absolutely clearly stated that “it can only be Russia."
“This dam is under illegal Russian occupation. In any case, they are responsible for it,” Maasikas added.
“And we all know who cares more about human life.”
On June 9, in an intercepted phone call published by Ukraine's Security Service, an alleged Russian serviceman said a Russian sabotage group had destroyed the dam.
"They (the Ukrainian military) didn't strike it. That was our sabotage group. They wanted to scare people with this dam," said the man identified by the SBU as a Russian soldier.
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Igor Kossov
