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.
Russian officials are amplifying claims of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory to justify rejecting peace negotiations and continuing the war, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on March 21.
The institute notes that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov used Ukraine’s denial of involvement in the Sudzha gas distribution station fire to cast doubt on Kyiv’s credibility. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of violating a yet-to-be-finalized moratorium on energy infrastructure strikes and suggested the U.S. is responsible for controlling Ukraine’s actions.
The Kremlin has revived familiar narratives portraying Ukraine as the aggressor and acting under Western influence.
Russian authorities have also accused Ukrainian forces of targeting Russian nuclear power plants and committing war crimes against Russian civilians. On March 21, Russia’s Investigative Committee released a summary of ongoing investigations into alleged Ukrainian strikes on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and civilians in the region. These claims align with previous Kremlin efforts to discredit Ukraine and weaken Western support.
Russian officials have consistently used such accusations to deflect attention from Moscow’s own actions. Russian forces have committed numerous war crimes in Ukraine and have militarized the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, endangering its safety. On Feb. 14, a Russian Shahed drone struck the containment structure of Chornobyl’s Reactor No. 4, raising further concerns about Moscow’s disregard for nuclear security.
Kate Tsurkan
The Kremlin’s latest accusations come amid discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. regarding energy infrastructure, including the Russian-occupied power plant. Moscow may seek to exploit these narratives to disrupt or delay those talks.
The pattern of blaming Ukraine for endangering nuclear facilities could serve as a tactic to justify further escalation and pressure Western leaders.
By continuing to frame Ukraine as a reckless aggressor, the Kremlin aims to reinforce domestic support for the war and shift international attention away from its own military actions. This strategy, repeated during the all-out war, seeks to erode global backing for Kyiv while maintaining control over the Russian public’s perception of the war, ISW says.
Natalia Yermak
