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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Russian public, Russia's Armed Forces, and law enforcement amid the Wagner Group's armed rebellion on June 24. (Photo by Artem Priakhin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Russia will hold illegal "elections" in the occupied parts of Kherson Oblast between Sep. 8-10, saidYurii Sobolevskyi, the first deputy head of the Kherson Oblast Council on July 6.
The Ukrainian official cited the statement of the head of the so-called "Kherson Oblast election commission," set up by the Russian occupation authorities.
"These actions have nothing to do with the election process and are absolutely illegal," Sobolevskyi wrote on Telegram.
"Considering how they already conducted the 'referendum,' you can't call it anything other than a circus and absurd theater."
The official appealed to the residents of the occupied territories not to participate in the sham "elections," adding that those who do will be held accountable.
On May 29, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing regional "elections" to be held in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Russia's central election commission confirmed the plans to hold the illegal vote in four partially-occupied Ukrainian oblasts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk.
The sham vote, which is expected to take place on the same day as elections in Russian regions, shows the Kremlin's ambition to present the areas as integral parts of Russia, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.
Russian leaders will likely argue that the staged elections further justify the occupation as they did with the sham referendum in Crimea in 2014, the ministry said on Feb. 6.
Moscow claimed to annex Ukraine's Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in September 2022 after fake referendums.
Russian forces do not have full control of these regions, and two regional capitals - Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - are under Ukrainian control.
Alexander Khrebet
