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.
The Russian Landing Ship Caesar Kunikov supported by tug boats floats off of the Bulgarian coast on, Aug. 15, 2014. (NurPhoto/Corbis via Getty Images)
Only five Ropucha-class landing ships remain in service in Russia's Black Sea Fleet out of a previous total of 13 following the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov on Feb. 14, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on television.
The Caesar Kunikov was sunk in the early morning of Feb. 14 off of the Crimean city of Alupka by Magura V5 naval drones, Ukraine's military intelligence said. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said it was a joint operation between the army and the military intelligence.
Pletenchuk said that only five of the 13 "775" ships (code-word for the Ropucha-class landing ships) remained in service.
Other estimates have varied- the website for the Black Sea Fleet said there were five such landing ships, including the Caesar Kunikov.
Forbes wrote on Feb. 14 that only four landing ships remained following the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov, a total that consisted of both Ropucha and Tapir-class vessels.
According to military intelligence, the Caesar Kunikov had a crew size of up to 87 personnel. It is unclear at the time of this publication how many crew members were on the ship when it sank.
The military intelligence said that search and rescue operations were unsuccessful.
Dinara Khalilova
