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.
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba is talking to media as he arrives to the Europa, the EU Council headquarter on May 16, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on July 8 that Ukraine's path toward NATO is expected to become shorter after the Alliance's upcoming summit.
According to Kuleba, "several important decisions for Ukraine and NATO have already been agreed on."
Kuleba made the statement following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent trips to Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Turkey, where Ukraine's bid for membership in NATO was discussed.
"Based on the results of the (upcoming NATO) summit, our path towards the alliance will definitely become shorter," Kuleba wrote on Threads on July 8.
"And this is a significant result, about which — as in many other cases — we were told that it would not happen, but we did it together with our closest partners," he wrote.
However, Kuleba added that there still is "a lack of a solution to make this path even faster — clarity about inviting Ukraine to join (NATO)."
"Now is a unique moment to bring that clarity," he wrote.
"For NATO, losing this opportunity would mean giving (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin a gift at a time when he needs to be pressed on all fronts."
Ahead of the next NATO summit in Vilnius, Kyiv actively seeks to mobilize additional support for Ukraine's membership bid. Ukraine hopes to receive a "clear signal" from allies regarding its membership prospects at the summit, set to take place on July 11-12.
On July 7, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the member states are expected to adopt a three-part package "to bring Ukraine closer" to the alliance during the summit.
According to Stoltenberg, the package will include a multi-year support program "to ensure full interoperability" between the Ukrainian forces and NATO. Allies will also establish the NATO-Ukraine Council "to upgrade political ties" and reaffirm that Ukraine will become a NATO member.
"(Our) work continues. And it will continue without a break throughout the weekend until the last minute of adopting the declaration of the NATO summit in Vilnius," Kuleba wrote.
Daria Shulzhenko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been a lifestyle reporter at the Kyiv Post until November 2021. She graduated from Kyiv International University with a bachelor’s in linguistics, specializing in translation from English and German languages. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and researcher.
Mark Dietzen
