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.
Polish farmers have briefly blocked a railway track at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing with Ukraine, dumping grain from a train, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Feb. 20.
Protests at the Polish-Ukrainian border erupted earlier in February as Polish farmers criticized the import of Ukrainian agricultural products and the EU's Green Deal. Initially blocking six crossings, the organizers said they would close the border entirely on Feb. 20.
The protesters blocked the railway track at Medyka-Shehyni crossing only for about 15 minutes, after which they returned to the highway to disrupt the movement of trucks, RFE/RL said.
Footage shared by RFE/RL shows Polish police officers arriving at the scene.
Польські протестувальники перекривали залізничну колію і відкрили вантажний контейнер із сільськогосподарською продукцією.
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) February 20, 2024
Це відбулося біля «Медика-Шегині», передає кореспондентка Радіо Свобода. Протестувальники перекривали залізничну колію близько 15 хвилин pic.twitter.com/3FBdMCx4oU
Polish protesters reportedly dumped grain also from trucks at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk on Feb. 11, sparking condemnations in Ukraine.
Earlier on Feb. 20, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko appealed to Polish authorities to assess the legality of the ongoing blockade and to take steps against anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and actions surrounding the protests.
The protesting farmers have also begun blocking roads in Poland on Feb. 20, complicating traffic across regions.
Dominic Culverwell
