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.
Around 20,000 people will have to be resettled because of the floods caused by the Kakhovka dam destruction, US State Department official Vedant Patel said at a June 7 press briefing.
"16,000 residents face immediate flood risks… with an estimated 20,000 people needing to relocate," he commented.
Apart from a direct danger to civilian life and property, the disaster threatens the security at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the water supply in southern Ukraine.
It can also impact the stability of the national power supply and food security, Patel added.
The official said that at the moment, the State Department cannot say conclusively who was behind the explosion, reiterating the statement by the National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby from June 6.
Martin Fornusek
Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reported that on June 6, Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka dam, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov identified Russia's 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade as the unit that carried out the detonation.
According to the latest information by 23:20 p.m. Kyiv time, more than 1,900 residents have been evacuated from the affected areas and three people in the Russian-occupied areas lost their lives in the floods.
