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.
The U.S. and allied countries have sanctioned eight North Korean foreign-based individuals, including two residing in Russia, in response to a launch of Pyongyang's spy satellite, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Nov. 30.
North Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21, supposedly designed to spy on the U.S. and South Korean militaries.
The new U.S. sanction measures carried out in coordination with Australia, Japan, and South Korea target North Korea's "ability to generate revenue, procure materiel, and gather intelligence that advances the development of its WMD (weapons of mass destruction) program and the unlawful export of arms."
The sanctions list includes So Myong, the chief representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank in Russia's Vladivostok, who facilitated financial transfers on behalf of North Korean "financial institutions and weapons trading entities."
The measures also extend to Choe Un Hyok, a representative of the Korea United Development Bank in Russia, for carrying out multiple payments to an entity involved in Pyongyang's missiles program.
The U.S. and its allies have further sanctioned six other North Korean individuals residing in China, Iran, and other countries, as well as a cyber espionage group Kimsuky.
The U.S. and South Korea suspect Russia of aiding North Korea in the launch of its satellite in exchange for military supplies, which reportedly included over a million artillery shells and other arms.
Moscow and Pyongyang have been growing closer as Russia seeks to secure foreign support for its war on Ukraine.
Katie Marie Davies
