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.
Check out our LIVE UPDATES on the Wagner Group’s armed rebellion in Russia.
Private mercenary Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that his fighters have entered Russia's southern Rostov Oblast, located near Ukraine's border, and that they had shot down a helicopter that had fired on what he referred to as a "civilian column."
"Now, we are entering Rostov. Ministry of Defense units, or rather their conscripts, who were thrown to block the road, stepped aside," Prigozhin claimed in a bombastic voice message posted to his press service's Telegram channel.
"Border guards came out to meet us and hugged our fighters, Prigozhin claimed, saying that his fighters had "crossed the state border in all places."
Prigozhin also issued a warning to anyone who might try to stand in the way of his fighters: "We will destroy everything that gets in our way."
In a separate, short voice message posted about an hour later, Prigozhin claimed that a helicopter had opened fire on a "column of civilians" and that it was shot down by the Wagner Group. He did not provide any additional information.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
The voice message comes as Russian military leaders called on the Wagner Group after midnight on June 24 to hold their positions following a video statement in which Prigozhin called the Russian military leadership "evil" and vowed a "march for justice."
Meanwhile, Russian media outlet Vazhnyye Istorii reported, citing Russian state-controlled news agency TASS, that Moscow had strengthened security measures in the capital and put police forces and government agencies on high alert.
