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.
The shooting occurred around 3:22 p.m. local time in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a residential area in Bucha district, according to the Kyiv regional police.
Lawmakers urged the EU and its member states to step up efforts to hold Moscow accountable through international courts and support for Ukraine’s campaign to bring its children home.
The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York sat down with author, historian, and Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, which mark the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, are one of the country’s biggest public events of the year. President of the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland Andrej Lushnycky who sheds some light on the things Putin would rather you didn’t know about World War II.
Washington’s involvement may also help mitigate political opposition in Europe, while giving the U.S. strategic visibility over future Russian energy flows, sources told Reuters.
President Volodymyr Zelensky during his evening address on March 10, 2024. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Pope Francis' comments urging Ukrainians to have the "courage of the white flag," saying on March 10 that Europe's safety is currently guaranteed by troops fighting under Ukraine's flag.
The remarks follows Pope Francis' suggestion on March 9 that Ukrainians consider negotiating with Russia.
"I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, who thinks about the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate," Pope Francis said.
Zelensky responded in his nightly address without mentioning the pope directly.
"Russian murderers and torturers are not moving further into Europe only because they are being held back by Ukrainians with weapons in their hands and under the blue and yellow flag," he said.
Zelensky's frustration with the pope's comments came through in his praise for the bravery of Ukraine's military chaplains.
“This is what the church is – it is together with people, not two-and-a-half thousand kilometers away somewhere, virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you," he said.
Zelensky went on to thank French President Emmanuel Macron for his leadership and support. He said the two leaders held a lengthy phone call on March 10 and discussed the agenda for their upcoming meeting in Ukraine.
Macron has emerged as one of the West's most vocal supporters of Ukraine, calling for the necessity of a military victory over Russia rather than ceasefire negotiations. Zelensky and Macron signed an agreement on security cooperation on February 16, with Macron pledging to support Ukraine’s NATO and EU aspirations.
Zelensky also said that in March alone, Ukrainian air defense units have shot down 151 drones out of 175 fired.
“Yes, not all of them," he said. "Yes, there are hits. Unfortunately, there are losses. There are casualties. But there are also people saved.”
Russian forces have used thousands of Shahed drones to target Ukrainian cities since February 2022.
Francis Farrell
