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.
Western countries' decisions to supply battle tanks to Ukraine will help the country to "conduct mechanized warfare to defeat the Russian military and liberate Ukrainian territory," the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update.
Both the United States and Germany announced on Jan. 24 that their countries were preparing to send battle tanks to Ukraine. Germany also announced it would allow other European countries to send Ukraine German-made Leopard tanks from their own stocks.
The ISW wrote in an earlier update that the West's reluctance to send Ukraine the weapons systems and supplies needed for large-scale counteroffensive operations had hindered Ukraine's ability "to take advantage of having pinned Russian forces in Bakhmut."
The United States could announce more than 30 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as soon as Wednesday, AP reported on Jan. 24. Germany is expected to send around 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, while other European countries have signaled their readiness to send Leopard tanks in their possession.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said he had not ruled out the possibility of France sending Ukraine Leclerc tanks.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny said in December that Ukraine would need 300 battle tanks and other weapon systems to launch further counteroffensives, the ISW said.
