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.
Traffic on the Russian-built Crimean Bridge on Oct. 13, 2022. (Photo by Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)
The Crimean Bridge was shut down by Russian proxy authorities in occupied Crimea for nearly one hour during the night of Sept. 12, Russian sources claimed.
The Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti and the Telegram channel for the Crimean Bridge claimed at around 1:40 a.m. local time that the bridge was closed to traffic. Drivers on the bridge were allegedly asked to remain calm and follow the instructions of transport security staff.
About 50 minutes later, it was announced that traffic had resumed on the bridge.
No reason has been given for the closure.
On Sept. 10, the Ukrainian military reported that the Crimean Bridge is still unable to function normally following a July drone strike.
The bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Construction on the bridge began after the illegal 2014 annexation and occupation of Crimea, and was completed in 2018.
The 19-kilometer long bridge is a critical supplies and transport route for Russian forces in Crimea and mainland Ukraine, and has been the target of repeated attacks following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On Oct. 8, 2022, an explosion collapsed a section of the road bridge and damaged part of the railway bridge. Another section of the road bridge collapsed following an attack on July 17 of this year, while another attack on Aug. 12 temporarily closed traffic.
Russian forces claimed to have prevented another attack on Sept. 2, and in late August Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia had begun sinking ferries in order to protect the bridge from attacks by sea.
Alexander Khrebet
