(Updated: )Victory Day
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Friday, May 9
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.
(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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
France's position toward Ukraine's pathway to NATO membership has evolved to reflect more support for Ukraine accession ahead of a major alliance summit next month in Vilnius, French newspaper Le Monde reported, citing its sources.
Security guarantees for Ukraine and the question of NATO membership were discussed at a June 12 French defense council meeting at the Elysee Palace, according to Le Monde.
Le Monde's sources said that Ukraine joining NATO could be considered as a mechanism to discourage Russia from continuing the war or, if the conflict should stop, prevent further aggression.
This new approach reflects a meaningful evolution in France's position towards Ukraine's integration into NATO. Previously, French President Emmanuel Macron said he favored "stronger, concrete very clear security guarantees" for Ukraine by NATO member countries over membership.
Paris is now getting closer to the positions of countries of central and eastern Europe, namely Poland and the Baltic States, which have been advocating for Ukraine's accession to NATO, according to Le Monde.
Germany and the United States have pushed back on discussions of Ukrainian NATO membership. President Biden recently told reporters that he would not ease membership restrictions as Ukraine must meet the same standards as other NATO members.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also stated that an invitation for Ukraine to NATO will not be discussed at the upcoming summit, but that NATO members will instead explore ways to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance.
Next month, NATO's 31 member states will meet in Vilnius to discuss a number of issues, including potential security guarantees for Ukraine.
Inside Ukraine’s costly mission to grind down Russia near Bakhmut
Editor’s note: The Kyiv Independent interviewed a few dozen soldiers deployed near Bakhmut and visited their positions in late May and early June. The soldiers are identified by their first names or call signs for security reasons amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. NEAR IVANIVSKE VILLAGE, Don…
Asami Terajima
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