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.
Experimental Ukrainian military boots were tested in various environments through much of 2021. (ArmyInform)
It looks like Ukraine's military can soon expect a new goodie to stay warm in the nasty weather.
The Armed Forces are currently completing field tests of new soldier boots for wintertime. These are expected to outmatch standard-issue models produced by Ukrainian company Talan, a major contractor for the military.
Talan's boots have been in wide use for years and received mixed feedback from personnel. Many criticized the footwear for being heavy, sultry and not breathable enough, according to the military. The sole was also said to be far from perfect.
Now is the company's attempt to redeem itself. The new experimental footwear, also designed and modified by Talan, is aimed at being drier, warmed, lighter, and more comfortable for long walks.
The new boots are made from nubuck leather to make them breathe easier. Soles are designed to cleanse themselves of dirt on the go, have better grip and make the wearer expend less energy while walking. The designers also said it's now faster and easier to tie the laces.
Experimental Ukrainian military boots were tested in various environments through much of 2021. (ArmyInform)
The boots' anti-puncture Kevlar layer sits next to the neoprene heat insulating cover, in addition to a foil layer in the boot tip, which makes them comfortably warm in the cold season.
According to the military, the new model weighs 10% less than the old Talans. The basic color was changed to olive to look better with the standard MM14 camouflage pattern widely used with Ukraine's field fatigues.
According to the military, the new boots have been tested in everyday use, in long marches and in the frosty and wet weather, receiving positive feedback from personnel.
Experimental Ukrainian military boots were tested in various environments through much of 2021. (ArmyInform)
Illia Ponomarenko was a defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent in 2021-2023. He has reported about the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s earliest days. He covers national security issues, as well as military technologies, production, and defense reforms in Ukraine. Besides, he gets deployed to the war zone of Donbas with Ukrainian combat formations. He has also had deployments to Palestine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an embedded reporter with UN peacekeeping forces. Illia won the Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellowship and was selected to work as USA Today's guest reporter at the U.S. Department of Defense.
