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.
A plane of the Ukrainian airline SkyUp Airlines at the airport. (SkyUp Airlines / Facebook)
Ukrainian airline SkyUp Airlines has made its first regular flight since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, flying on the Chisinau-Paris route on April 18, the Ain news outlet reported, citing the company's press service.
Another flight is scheduled for Lisbon, and the company will also operate routes to 11 cities in seven countries, including France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Czechia, and Sweden.
Ukraine closed its skies for commercial flights at the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war. Unable to fly in Ukraine, SkyUp has moved to Chisinau, the closest international airport to the Ukrainian border.
"Today's launch of regular flights from Chisinau is not just a new stage of the company's operations. It is proof that Ukrainian professionals and the company remain part of the world's aviation, despite everything," SkyUp Airlines CEO Dmitry Seroukhov said in a press statement.
"And each new flight is our silent but confident response to the challenges of our times."
The U.S.'s efforts to broker a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow have reinvigorated discussions about resuming flights in Ukraine.
Lviv’s Danylo Halytskyi International Airport's general director said earlier in March that flights could restart as early as this spring, according to an optimistic scenario under government consideration.
Director Tetiana Romanovska said that Lviv Airport is in talks with Skyup, as well as Wizz Air, Air Baltic, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and LOT, on the possible resumption of flights.
The Ukrainian government claimed it is "95%" ready to reopen its skies but said discussions about resuming flights without sufficient air defenses would be "impractical" as long as the war is ongoing.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
