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.
Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks in a video allegedly filmed in Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut on May 25, 2023. (Prigozhin's press service/Telegram)
All Russian volunteer fighters are expected to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry by July 1 as part of their integration into the regular army, according to an order signed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on June 10.
The order comes amid a long-running conflict between the Defense Ministry and Wagner, a mercenary group that is technically considered a volunteer unit and is subject to the order. Mercenaries are illegal in Russia, and Shoigu’s order is aimed at legalizing mercenaries and subordinating them to the ministry.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin rejected the order and said on June 11 that his mercenaries “would not sign any contracts with Shoigu,” adding that such orders only apply to employees of the Defense Ministry.
“Wagner Group coordinates its actions with generals and has the best experience and a highly effective structure. Unfortunately, most military units do not have such efficiency, and it is precisely because of Shoigu's inability to properly manage military units,” Prigozhin claimed on June 11, as cited by his press service.
Tensions between Russian generals and Prigozhin reached a boiling point when he openly criticized the leadership of the Defense Ministry in recent months. He claimed that Wagner was the only Russian force capable of achieving victories in the war.
In early June Wagner mercenaries engaged in a shootout with regular Russian troops and captured a Russian brigade commander as a prisoner. The brigade commander was later released and accused Wagner of various crimes.
Prigozhin has also accused the Defense Ministry of mining Wagner mercenaries' routes when they withdrew from Bakhmut.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has prevented Wagner from recruiting prisoners in Russian jails.
Now, the Defense Ministry is the only body recruiting Russian inmates for the army.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
