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.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal delivers a speech to the Verkhovna Rada on Oct. 6, 2023. (Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine will need over $37 billion in external financing in 2024, which is around $5 billion less than the country received from foreign partners last year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 3.
Ukraine's own budget revenues in 2023 amounted to more than Hr 1.1 trillion ($28 billion) in taxes, fees, and other payments, and Kyiv is steadily increasing this number, Shmyhal said at a government meeting.
At the same time, Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine is counting on "stable and timely assistance from international partners."
During the meeting, the prime minister revealed that the government intends to spend over $19.69 billion on military personnel payments and over $6.96 billion for the purchase, production, and repairs of weaponry.
One of Ukraine's key goals for 2024 is to increase the defense industry production capacity six times, he added.
Ukraine received $42.6 billion in external financing last year, 27% of which were grant funds, according to Shmyhal.
The main donors were the European Union, the U.S., the International Monetary Fund, Japan, Canada, the U.K., and the World Bank.
Francis Farrell
