(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.
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Guardian: Russian torture chambers in Kherson Oblast 'not random but rather part of a carefully thought-out plan'
• 1 min read
Since the liberation of Kherson on Nov. 11, 2022, more than 20 torture chambers have been investigated by a team of Ukrainian and International lawyers, according to a March 2 article by the Guardian.
“The mass torture chambers, financed by the Russian state, are not random but rather part of a carefully thought-out and financed blueprint with a clear objective to eliminate Ukrainian national and cultural identity,” said British barrister Wayne Jordash, head of the Mobile Justice Team, a collective of international investigators working with the Prosecutor General's Office.
Furthermore, as reported by NV, the torture centers were run by Russian security services as well as local collaborators, including Kherson collaborator Volodymyr Saldo. "We don't know exactly what role Saldo had, but he participated in the management of this system," said Jordash.
The prisoners, including teachers, journalists, or activists, were forced into the chambers for any link to the Ukrainian state or civil society. Residents were also regularly stopped on the streets and searched for having “pro-Ukrainian” material on their phones.
Victims were subject to physical beatings, electric shock torture, and waterboarding and were forced to learn and recite pro-Russian slogans, poems, and songs.
According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, thousands of Ukrainians were physically and mentally abused in such facilities.
Survivors of Russian torture chamber in Kherson share stories of abuse (VIDEO)
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