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.
Ukrainian wrestler Iryna Koliadenko reached the 62 kg weight division finals at the Olympic Games in Paris on Aug. 9.
Koliadenko faced the current world-ranking leader, Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, in the semifinals, winning 9-2.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Koliadenko lost her only match against Tynybekova in the semifinals, after which she won a bronze medal in the repechage.
Koliadenko will compete for the gold medal with Japan's Sakura Motoki, the world vice-champion and world number two. The women's 62 kg freestyle wrestling final will take place on Aug. 10.
Martin Fornusek
Another Ukrainian wrestler, Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi, will compete for a bronze medal in the 125 kg freestyle wrestling category.
Khotsianivskyi lost 0-11 to the second-seeded Geno Petriashvili of Georgia in the semifinals, but he reached the repechage thanks to Petriashvili advancing to the finals later in the day.
The Ukrainian wrestler's first opponent will be Robert Baran from Poland in the repechage. The winner of this bout will face Giorgi Meshvildishvili from Azerbaijan, a two-time bronze medalist at the European Championships, in the bronze medal match.
The repechage of the 125 kg class, as well as the medal matches, will occur on Aug. 10.
Ukraine's national team won two medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympic Games in Paris. Parviz Nasibov became a silver medalist in the 67 kg weight category, and Zhan Beleniuk won bronze in the 87 kg weight division.
Following the results of the competitions on Aug. 9, Ukraine took 16th place in the medal standings of the Olympic Games in Paris. Ukrainian athletes won 11 medals, including three gold, four silver, and four bronze.
Gold medals were secured by Ukrainian fencers Olga Kharlan, Alina Komashchuk, Yuliia Bakastova, and Olena Kravatska in the saber team competition, as well as by high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh and boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak, who competed in the 80 kg weight category.
Kateryna Hodunova
