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.
Illustrative photo: A woman walks amid broken branches as result of snowstorm in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on Jan. 8, 2024 . (Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Russia carried out a mass attack against regions across Ukraine on the morning of Jan. 13, using a range of weapons, including hypersonic missiles, according to the local authorities and the Air Force.
Russia launched missiles at the city of Shostka in Sumy Oblast in north-eastern Ukraine at around 7:30 a.m., injuring one woman and leaving 12,000 residents without heating for most of the morning, the region's Military Administration said.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, at least 26 buildings were damaged and preliminary information indicates that Russian forces used Kh-22 anti-ship missiles in the strike.
Explosions were heard in Chernihiv Oblast in the north of Ukraine. Governor Vyacheslav Chaus confirmed that air defense had been at work in the region and that Russia's attack had caused damage in an unspecified location. "So far, there are no casualties," Chaus said.
In central Ukraine, a missile was shot down over Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast, damaging a building, but no casualties were reported. The rocket had not exploded, Governor Filip Pronin said.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported that "two enemy missiles are now scrap metal" after two cruise missiles were downed over the district of Kryvyi Rih.
Explosions were also heard in the city of Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovohrad Oblast. Governor Andrii Raikovych also reported that there were no casualties in the region.
In Khmelnytskyi Oblast in the west of Ukraine, the local authorities reported that a missile was downed above the region and that according to current information, "critical infrastructure and the civilian population were not affected."
Air defense forces were also at work in Rivne Oblast, and there were no casualties or damage, according to Governor Oleksandr Koval.
In Lviv, the air raid alert lasted from around 6:30 a.m. to around 8:25 a.m., and "several times rockets were dangerously close to Lviv Oblast," according to Governor Maksym Kozytsky.
Due to the air defense forces in the west of Ukraine, "rockets did not manage to enter the airspace of Lviv Oblast," Kozytsky said.
Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.
Dinara Khalilova
