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.
The aftermath of Russian attacks on Kharkiv on Jan. 31-30, 2024. (Governor Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
Russia carried out attacks against 10 of Ukraine's oblasts over the past day, killing at least two civilians and injuring a least 17 others, regional authorities reported early on Jan. 31.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russia launched two missiles against Pokrovsk, injuring six people, the regional military administration said.
Russian attacks also reportedly killed one person in Avdiivka and injured two in Chasiv Yar and another in Niu-York.
On the evening of Jan. 30, Russia attackedKharkiv with six Shahed-type drones, four of which hit the city, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Three men and one woman were reportedly injured in the attack.
Russia launched 53 attacks against Kherson Oblast over the past day, killing one person and injuring two others, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
One more person was injured in Kherson early in the morning on Jan. 31, said Roman Mrochko, the head of the city's military administration.
In Mykolaiv Oblast, one person was injured in an overnight drone attack against an agricultural warehouse in the Snihurivka community, Governor Vitalii Kim said.
Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts also came under attack, but no casualties were reported.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Dinara Khalilova
