The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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.
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."
Through an agreement with the European Commission, Ukraine has received 5,876 solar panels to power hospitals across the country, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced on social media on July 2. (Ukrainian Ministry of Energy/Telegram)
Through an agreement with the European Commission, Ukraine has received 5,876 solar panels to help power hospitals across the country, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced to social media on July 2.
As Russia's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have increased, Ukrainians continue to face lengthy, daily interruptions in access to electricity.
The panels, which were produced by Italian manufacturer Enel, will produce a total capacity of approximately 2 megawatts of electricity for hospitals in Zhytomyr, Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, and Odesa oblasts, the Energy Ministry said.
"In the conditions of constant attacks by Russia on Ukraine's energy system, the medical infrastructure becomes very vulnerable. Power outages affect the operation of hospitals," Ukraine's Health Minister Viktor Liashko said in a statement.
"To enable medical institutions to provide uninterrupted medical care to patients, we are working on equipping them with alternative energy sources, including solar panels. This is an important step towards energy independence and the stable operation of medical institutions."
In its statement, the Energy Ministry noted that equipment used to install solar panels will be funded through the international Ukraine Energy Support Fund, and that number of hospitals receiving solar panels is expected to grow.
The agreement, dubbed "Ray of Hope," was spearheaded by Ukraine's health and energy ministries alongside the European Commission.
Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Daria Shulzhenko
