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.
Speaking after a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on April 21, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Russia's war against Ukraine is "not the result of NATO enlargement" but "the cause" of it.
According to Austin, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "made a series of grave miscalculations" when he ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine over a year ago.
"He thought that Ukraine wouldn't dare to fight back, but Ukraine is standing strong with the help of its partners. Putin thought that our unity would fracture, but Russia's cruel war of choice has only brought us closer together," the Pentagon head said at a press conference.
His remarks come after defense ministers of 54 nations gathered at the U.S. Ramstein air base in Germany to coordinate efforts to provide further military aid to Ukraine. The Contact Group member Finland participated in the meeting as a NATO ally for the first time after joining the alliance on April 4.
Ukraine applied for a fast-track NATO accession on Sept. 30 after Russia illegally claimed the annexation of Ukrainian territory. However, until Russia's war against Ukraine ends, the country's prospects of definitive NATO membership remain uncertain.
Russia repeatedly lashed out at NATO, claiming that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine was caused by the alliance's expansion and started by the West.
@the_kyiv_independent Russia claims that NATO’s eastward expansion is one of the reasons for its full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Some 60% of Russians share this belief, while only 4% blame Moscow for the escalation of the war. Why does Russia push this narrative about NATO? #ukraine #ukraine🇺🇦 #finland #geopolitics #ukrainevsrussia
♬ original sound - Kyiv Independent
Asami Terajima
