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.
A former clergyman was detained in Odesa Oblast for helping men leave the country by including them on a fake list of "missionaries" who needed to travel abroad, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on Sept. 12.
He was formerly a clergyman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, a church that has received intense scrutiny since the beginning of the full-scale invasion due to its affiliations with Russia.
The man demanded a minimum payment of $4,500 in exchange for forging documents that would allow the men to evade mobilization, the SBU said.
The price depended on how urgently someone needed to leave Ukraine and their financial situation.
Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are not able to leave the country unless they have special permission, they are still a student, or they have certain medical conditions. Under martial law, they must stay in Ukraine as they may be called up at any moment for military service.
The SBU believes that the ex-clergyman attempted to smuggle six men abroad through this scheme.
He is currently in custody. If convicted of the crime of illegally transporting people across the border, the man faces up to nine years in prison.
Martin Fornusek
