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.
Ukrainian-Israeli citizen Artem Marchevskyi, accused by the Czech authorities of running a Moscow-paid propaganda network from Prague, has been granted temporary protection in neighboring Slovakia, the Czech news outlet Denik N reported on April 30, citing its undisclosed sources.
Marchevskyi and pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who lives in Russia, were accused by Czechia back in March of spreading disinformation and funding Kremlin-friendly politicians in the EU.
After the Czech authorities put both men under sanctions, Marchevskyi left his Prague residence for Slovakia. The Slovak government is currently led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is known for his anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and warm stances toward the Kremlin.
Marchevskyi had been living in Czechia since 2022, where he reportedly arrived shortly after the outbreak of the full-scale war and was given temporary protection as a Ukrainian "refugee."
Denik N said that the reason for his departure from Ukraine was not so much the war itself but an investigation by Ukrainian authorities into his suspected cooperation with Russia.
Prague was planning to cancel Marchevskyi's EU residency status after his purported role in the Voice of Europe disinformation network was uncovered, but this was possible only 60 days after the sanctions came into force.
These plans were thwarted by the decision by the Slovak Interior Ministry to grant Marchevskyi temporary protection in Slovakia, which meant that the Czech authorities could no longer affect his residency status in the EU, the sources told Denik N.
The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.
The Slovak Interior Ministry told Reuters that it was looking into the case together with the country's intelligence services but declined to provide further comments.
The supposed activities of Marchevskyi, Medvedchuk, and the Voice of Europe have prompted investigations in several EU countries. Belgium and Czechia believe that the main goal of the influence operation was to support pro-Russian politicians in the June elections for the European Parliament.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Martin Fornusek
