Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russian ruble becomes top-performing currency amid Trump trade war, peace hopes
The Russian ruble has posted the world's strongest gains against the U.S. dollar in 2025, surpassing traditional safe-haven assets like gold, Bloomberg reported on April 15.
According to Bloomberg's calculations, the ruble has appreciated by 38% against the dollar in the over-the-counter market since the start of the year, outpacing gold's 23% rise.
The surge comes amid a combination of domestic policy measures, a weakening dollar driven by U.S. President Donald Trump's new trade war, and renewed speculation about a potential peace deal in Ukraine.
Analysts point to a February phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump as the moment when markets began factoring in the possibility of de-escalation.
The ruble has also been buoyed by Russia's sky-high key interest rate, which currently stands at 21%. The tight monetary policy has curbed domestic demand and slashed import volumes, which fell 10% year-on-year in February.
The currency's strength presents risks to Russia's war-fueled budget. With government spending heavily inflated by military expenditures in early 2025, the ruble's appreciation undermines revenues from oil exports — the Kremlin's primary source of hard currency.
Oil revenues, already weakened by plummeting global prices, now yield fewer rubles due to the ruble's strong exchange rate. The Russian federal budget was calculated with an average rate of 96.5 rubles per dollar, 14% below current levels.
While the ruble's rise reflects short-term gains, its long-term sustainability depends on volatile external factors — including the outcome of negotiations over war in Ukraine and Trump's increasingly confrontational global trade policy.
On April 9, Trump reduced tariffs to 10% for 90 days for 75 of the 211 countries against which they were previously imposed. Markets reacted with a sharp rise in stock indices and oil prices.
Martin Fornusek
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