(Updated: )Victory Day
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Friday, May 9
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.
Friday, May 9
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.
(Updated: )
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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
In the past 24 hours, Russian forces killed one civilian in Bakhmut and wounded four in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on Nov. 18.
Russian troops also struck the critical infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast, damaging gas industry equipment in the Izium district, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Eight emergency service workers and policemen were injured in an attempt to extinguish the fire, according to Syniehubov.
At night, Russia hit the building of a cultural center in one of the villages of Zaporizhzhia Oblast with an S-300 missile, reported Governor Oleksandr Starukh. There were no casualties, according to preliminary data.
Russian forces fired 40 projectiles at Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight, damaging several high-rise buildings and private houses, farm buildings, a power line, a solar substation, a garage cooperative, garages, and cars, according to Governor Valentyn Reznichenko. No casualties were reported.
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