The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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Friday, May 9
(Updated: )
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.
(Updated: )Victory Day
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.
Friday, May 9
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.
While Ukrainian forces are likely conducting a limited tactical withdrawal in Bakhmut, it is too early to tell if Ukraine is considering a complete withdrawal from the city, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update.
Recent geolocated footage of a destroyed railway bridge in northeastern Bakhmut on March 3 may indicate that Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from their positions on the eastern bank of the Bakhmuta River, the ISW said.
Other footage shows that the Kremlin-backed private mercenary Wagner Group has continued to make advances in northeastern Bakhmut and near the Stupky railway, the update said.
The city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast has been the site of intense fighting over the past seven months as Russia attempts to capture the city in order to increase its grip over the entirety of the oblast, around half of which it currently occupies.
The think-tank cited a Ukrainian serviceman in its update as saying that Russian forces had yet to cross the Bakhmuta River into central Bakhmut as of March 4. Russian military bloggers claimed the Wagner Group had pushed Ukrainian positions back to central Bakhmut, the ISW reported.
Ukraine war latest: Military Intelligence says Russia to run out of 'military tools' by end of spring
According to the ISW, it is unclear if Ukraine is planning to hold its positions on the western bank of the Bakhmuta River.
The update also said that "Ukrainian forces are unlikely to withdraw from Bakhmut all at once and may pursue a gradual fighting withdrawal to exhaust Russian forces through continued urban warfare."
"The Bakhmut city center is located on the western bank of the Bakhmutka River, and Russian forces will need to fight through the area if they are unable to advance directly north or south of Bakhmut to the west of the city center."
The urban conditions and river may benefit Ukraine in a similar way to the urban fighting and withdrawal that occurred in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast, which effectively ended Russia's offensives in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in the summer of last year, the ISW wrote.
Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut: ‘Our troops are not being protected’
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