Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
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Friday, May 9
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
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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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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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.
(Updated: )Victory Day
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.
Friday, May 9
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.
In an op-ed reflecting on one year of Russia's all-out war in Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed the war's global impact and the need for continued solidarity.
"This is not a local conflict. Russia tries to set Europe ablaze," said Morawiecki. "Its aim is to destabilize the entire global economic order."
Morawiecki cited the energy crisis and global inflation as an example of this.
Ukraine is one of the world's top grain exporters. Earlier this month, the Agriculture Ministry reported that exports had decreased by 1.3 million metric tons in January 2023 due to Russia obstructing the passage of outbound vessels from ports. Shipments of all grain and oil-based crops decreased, with the corn export decreasing by 700,000 metric tons, and wheat by 250,000 metric tons.
Morawiecki added that "the weakness of the West has been Russia’s strength," namely its reliance on Russian fossil fuels and other natural resources.
This was evidenced recently when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared that his country would veto EU sanctions related to nuclear energy. Hungary has a Russian-built nuclear plant generating almost half of the country's power, which it plans to expand.
Morawiecki also praised Germany's approval to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine and the U.S. pledge to send Abrams tanks, adding that "Russia has miscalculated. It wanted to divide us, but we became more united than ever before."
Morawiecki is in Kyiv on Feb. 24 to commemorate the anniversary and reaffirm Poland's solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Timeline of Russia's all-out war in Ukraine, month by month
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