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.
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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
Landmines and other explosive devices have killed 264 civilians in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Telegram Nov. 1.
The number of those killed includes at least 14 children, according to a separate report by the State Emergency Services on Oct. 23.
In total, 571 people have been injured in more than 560 separate accidents involving landmines, the General Staff said.
Of all the incidents with landmines, 145 took place in fields, making it the most common location for an accident. The second-most common location was roads, with 125 incidents.
A 14-year-old boy was killed and a 12-year-old boy was injured by after coming across a mine while playing in a field in Mykolaiv Oblast on Oct. 15, while an explosive device killed two men in a field in Kharkiv Oblast on Oct. 11.
Another 117 incidents took place in yards around houses, followed by forests with 91 incidents. Areas around water, such as reservoirs, accounted for 30 incidents with mines.
Civilians have also been injured by explosive decides found indoors, with 53 incidents taking place in rooms.
"Explosive objects can also be disguised as ordinary household items, for example, a toy or a book," the State Emergency Service said.
The General Staff warned people not to touch or come near devices that they think might be explosive devices and to not ignore signs warning of danger of mines.
The authorities regularly spread awareness campaign around mines, which cover nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory, equivalent to an area twice the size of Austria.
Their presence is a threat to around 6 million Ukrainians, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Oct. 9.
Ukraine's Education Ministry announced in August that it would introduce mine safety courses for Ukrainian schoolchildren as a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Rich Wordsworth
