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.
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.
A house destroyed by one the Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Sept. 3, 2023. (Prosecutor General’s Office/Telegram)
Russian forces struck the villages of Pivnichne and Tykhonivka in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 3, killing one civilian and wounding five more, reported the Prosecutor General’s Office.
One of the attacks destroyed the house of an elderly couple — the 84-year-old owner died under the rubble while his wife, aged 85, suffered injuries, according to the report.
Four more residents were taken into medical care after receiving shrapnel wounds and bone fractures, the prosecutors wrote. Those are three men aged between 19 and 45 and a 61-year-old woman.
The shelling also damaged residential buildings and agricultural facilities, the Prosecutor General’s Office added.
Pivnichne is located on the outskirts of Toretsk, some 30 kilometers south of Bakhmut. Tykhonivka lies around 20 km east of another major city in Donetsk Oblast, Kramatorsk.
Civilians in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast are constantly subjected to Russian attacks as Moscow seeks to occupy the entire region.
On Sept. 2, Russian strikes against the regional settlements killed two civilians and wounded another two, as reported by Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
Francis Farrell
