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.
Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, wrote on May 2 that Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova's recent interview with Vice News was an "illustration" of the word "cannibal."
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as well as Lvova-Belova, who has been overseeing the forced deportations of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.
When asked by Vice News journalist Isobel Yeung about the ICC, Lvova-Belova feigned surprise and declared, "I am a mother, that says it all. What kind of war criminal am I, what are you talking about?"
In his tweet, Podoliak put forward his own version of Lvova-Belova's response, reflecting the reality of Russia's treatment of Ukrainian children.
"We just came to their cities, destroyed their houses, killed and maimed their parents in front of their eyes, sent them to filtration camps in distant regions, where we harshly abused them and forced them to listen to propaganda lectures, and supplemented it with... a second passport. Isn't that salvation?" he wrote.
It was "impossible" to come up with a more accurate illustration of the word "cannibal" than Lvova-Belova glossing over Russian war crimes during the interview, Podoliak added.
More than 19,000 children have been abducted to Russia, according to a Ukrainian national database, while thousands remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported on April 12 that Russian occupying forces have transported more than 100,000 Ukrainian children from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts for "medical treatment."
Vice News has drawn heavy criticism for the interview, with many believing that it only allowed Lvova-Belova to promote Russian propaganda on an international platform. Additionally, the journalist originally wrote in their article that Crimea was a part of Russia before issuing a correction.
Daria Shulzhenko
