(Updated: )Victory Day
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Friday, May 9
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.
Friday, May 9
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.
(Updated: )
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.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
The U.S. government issued guidance for the private sector about legal obligations and internal controls to curb Iran’s UAV-related activities on June 9.
The joint guidance from the U.S. State Department, Commerce Department, Justice Department, and Treasury Department covers due diligence policies and compliance structures. It details the key commodities used in UAV production, explaining the export control and sanction penalties relevant to the private entities providing components for Iran.
Iran has transferred hundreds of Shahed- and Mohajer-series drones to Russia since August 2022, which have been used in frequent attacks on Ukrainian civlians and infrastructure.
"Well, we want to make sure that private entities, certainly technology companies, understand the risks of their products potentially ending up in Iranian hands to be used for the manufacture of Iranian drones in this case that can be used to kill innocent Ukrainian people," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said about the guidance in a comment to Voice of America.
The advisory comes amid news that Iran has been assisting Russia with the construction of a drone factory by sending materials to Moscow on June 9.
White House: Iran helping Moscow build drone factory in Russia
Iran is providing Moscow with materials to build a drone factory in Russia, the White House revealed on June 9. These efforts are meant to provide a steady supply of weaponry for Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Martin Fornusek
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