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.
The Netherlands will supply Ukraine with ammunition and spare parts for Leopard 2 main battle tanks, as well as participate in the training of Ukrainian tank crews, the Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told De Telegraaf.
"It doesn't make much sense just to deliver the tanks," explains the minister. "We have to deliver a complete package."
During a press conference at NATO headquarters on Feb. 15, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the Dutch contribution amounts to 20,000 rounds of ammunition, according to De Telegraaf.
Ollongren added that the Netherlands is "the only country within the tank coalition that doesn't own tanks," as it leases its 18 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany.
"With Germany, it was decided that tanks from another battalion would be better suited to deliver to Ukraine," the Dutch Defense Ministry's spokeswoman Sascha Louwhoff told Reuters earlier.
"If Germany would have decided to send tanks from our bi-national battalion, we would not have opposed this. Nor will we oppose if they decide to send them at a later moment," Louwhoff added.
The German news source Welt reported on Feb. 14 that the governments of the Netherlands and Denmark had decided not to deliver Leopard 2 tanks.
In late January, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the Netherlands was considering buying the 18 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany to provide them to Ukraine.
