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.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.
In the words of U.S. President Joe Biden, on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia launched a genocidal war against Ukraine “to wipe out even the idea of being Ukrainian.”
Since then, Russia has fired over 3,500 missiles at Ukraine’s cities and towns as of early October, and the world has witnessed with consternation devastation in Ukraine unseen in Europe since the Second World War.
Despite this war between David and Goliath, Ukraine’s Armed Forces, with the full support of the Ukrainian people and aid from the West, particularly the U.S., are surely and systematically regaining Russian-occupied territories at an impressive pace.
This has prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to take three recent acts of desperation.
First, threatening, once again, the use of nuclear weapons that the global community called out as self-destructive.
Second, ordering a mobilization that has sent hundreds of thousands of Russians fleeing the country – not due to their moral opposition to the war against Ukraine, but because they do not wish to be Russia’s cannon fodder.
And third, running internationally condemned pseudo-referendums and proclaiming a so-called annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts while Ukrainian forces are actually liberating those regions – a further demonstration of Putin’s state of delusion.
Frustrated by the pitiful outcome of these desperate measures and exasperated by Ukraine’s amazing military success in reclaiming Russian-occupied territories, Russia unleashed its most intense aerial assault on Oct. 10 against Ukraine’s civilian population, critical energy infrastructure, and densely populated areas.
On that day alone, Russia fired 84 missiles and deployed 24 kamikaze drones across Ukraine.
This utter brutality unequivocally demonstrates the Kremlin’s intent to punish and terrorize Ukraine’s civilian population to avenge Russia’s military defeats. It is now unconscionable for the West to continue withholding from Ukraine any weapons necessary to help it ensure a no-fly zone and fully regain its territorial integrity.
Over the course of Russia’s genocidal war, the West has also felt the sting of Russia’s hybrid aggression as the Kremlin continues to weaponize everything it can, including gas, nuclear power stations, energy infrastructure, food, refugees, and information.
For instance, Russia’s Oct. 10 attack on about 30% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was also meant to disturb Ukraine’s electricity exports to European countries that help them save on Russian gas.
In addition, three of the missiles fired by Russia from the Black Sea on Oct. 10 violated Moldova’s airspace, a country that was granted EU candidate member status in 2022. This is another manifestation of Russia’s dangerous disregard for the airspace and territorial integrity of independent states.
This is why, during their summit on June 29, 2022, in Madrid, NATO member states rightfully declared that: “Russia is the most significant and direct threat to their security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe.”
Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine has reached a critical moment that will define the course of history and determine whether future generations will continue to be exposed to the dangerous and insatiable imperialist appetite of the Kremlin or live in a much safer, prosperous, and stable world.
The choice is obvious, and time is of the essence.
The West must now act with resolute determination and provide Ukraine with all the weapons necessary to ensure a no-fly zone that will help Ukraine win this war against an unprovoked and ruthless aggressor and stop a genocide.
