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 authorities have completed an internal probe against military enlistment officer Yevhen Borysov, who reportedly has luxury property, and found no violations, Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Operational Command South, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on June 23.
Humeniuk added that he keeps fulfilling his duties on the job.
Online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda published an investigation into Borysov, head of the Odesa military enlistment office, on June 22, saying that the official's family had acquired property worth $4.5 million in Spain at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's faction in parliament, said on June 23 that he had requested an inspection of all military enlistment offices in Ukraine after the Ukrainska Pravda investigation.
According to the journalists, the offshore property includes a $3.3 million villa, a number of expensive cars worth $500,000 in total, and office space in the city of Marbella.
Ukrainska Pravda wrote that the assets are registered under Borysov's family members, including his wife, mother, and mother-in-law. The journalists confirmed this information with the local registry.
Borysov initially told the journalists that his family has no property in Spain. After being presented with the data in the registry, he claimed that his wife conducts business in the country and "he stays out of it."
In April, member of parliament Ihor Mosiichuk accused Borysov of corruption and of acquiring Spanish property with a value that does not correspond to his family's declared income.
The military official was subsequently suspended and the State Investigation Bureau launched an investigation into whether he abused his position.
