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.
Three diplomats told Politico on Feb. 16 that the EU Commission will not include sanctions against the Russian nuclear sector or its representatives in its latest sanctions package.
In September 2022, Ukraine's Cabinet Ministry imposed sanctions against more than 700 individuals and legal entities from Russia’s state nuclear monopoly Rosatom.
On Feb. 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law an additional set of sanctions targeting 200 other individuals connected to Russia's nuclear sector.
Rosatom is one of the world's leading suppliers of enriched uranium and nuclear reactors. Many EU countries rely on Rosatom for the construction and maintenance of their nuclear power infrastructure.
"Hungary doesn’t let [sanctions] through, as their nuclear plant is owned by Rosatom and they say it produces 50 percent of the country’s energy supply," one senior EU diplomat is quoted as saying in the Politico piece.
A French economy ministry official also said, "many nuclear power plants use fuel of Russian energy."
The Security Service of Ukraine reported on Feb. 6 that Rosatom-affiliated companies took control of the technological and management processes of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is currently under Russian occupation. They also facilitated the connection of the nuclear plant to Russia's energy grid.
Russian occupying forces seized the plant in March 2022 and have continuously used it to launch attacks against Ukrainian-controlled territory.
