(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.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on June 28 that it detained an alleged Russian spy suspected of coordinating Russian fire in the attack on Kramatorsk's restaurant on June 27.
At least ten people were killed in the missile strike, Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Vasyliev confirmed after another body was retrieved from the rubble, while 60 people were injured, according to the State Emergency Service.
The alleged spy, who confessed in a video shared on the SBU's Telegram account, will face a Ukrainian court, Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the SBU, wrote.
"Remember - the punishment is inevitable!" he wrote. "In the same way, the organizers of war crimes - representatives of the Putin regime - will inevitably answer before the international tribunal."
The agent, allegedly working for Russia's military intelligence agency GRU, was reportedly in charge of finding out whether the restaurant was working and whether it was busy. The restaurant was full of civilians at the time of the attack.
The agent allegedly recorded a video of the restaurant and sent it to a Russian missile unit that hit the venue soon after with what has been reported to be an Iskander ballistic missile.
UPDATED: Russian missiles hit downtown Kramatorsk, at least 9 killed, 60 injured
Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast was struck by two Russian missile strikes on June 27, President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak reported. At least eight people were killed, including a 15-year-old minor, and 47 were wounded, which included a year-old baby, the State Emergency Service informed.
Martin Fornusek
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