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.
At the next Ramstein summit set to take place on June 15, Kyiv and Ukraine's allies will discuss the details of the "fighter jet coalition," in particular, the training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians to fly and maintain Western combat aircraft, said Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
Among other Ukraine's priorities to be discussed at the summit are air defense assistance, ammunition supply, and the creation of maintenance hubs for military equipment, according to Reznikov.
The 13th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein summit, will take place in Brussels, followed by the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting on June 16. Ramstein summits have been held since April 2022 to coordinate efforts to provide military aid to Ukraine.
On May 17, The U.K. and the Netherlands agreed to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets. So far, the initiative includes eight European countries and the U.S.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 6 that Ukraine would receive a "significant number" of the F-16s, long-requested by Kyiv, adding that the deal still required consent from the U.S.
Ukraine and its allies agreed to formalize the "fighter jet coalition" under the name 'Ukraine's Sky Shield' at the next Ramstein summit.
Martin Fornusek
