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.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
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.
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.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony in Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin issued no orders for most of the day on June 24 as Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was staging an armed rebellion, the Washington Post reported, citing Ukrainian and European intelligence.
The Wagner Group leader launched a “march for justice” against Russian military leaders after alleging on June 23 that a missile strike on his mercenary forces in Ukraine had caused substantial casualties.
The mercenary group occupied Rostov and reached Moscow Oblast before unexpectedly ending the rebellion on June 24. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed on June 28 that he convinced Putin not to “wipe out” Prigozhin, instead urging negotiations.
New intelligence claims that on the day of the revolt, Putin was "paralyzed and unable to act decisively," despite the fact he had been "warned by the Russian security services at least two or three days ahead of time" about the possibility that Prigozhin would instigate a rebellion, the Washington Post reported. Few major security steps were taken during that time.
According to one European security official, "there was paralysis on all levels" on the day of the uprising, with an atmosphere of "absolute dismay and confusion."
In the absence of decision-making at the highest level, local officials were left to decide for themselves how to respond.
Despite Putin's televised address on June 24, in which he condemned Prigozhin's actions as "treachery" but did not refer to him by name, many local officials could not imagine that the uprising was "happening without some degree of agreement with the Kremlin."
This belief led to many local officials deciding to not attempt to stop the insurrection, according to the security officials the Washington Post cited.
The Washington Post also quoted a senior Russian financier with ties to Russia's intelligence services who believes that Putin "lost his reputation as the toughest man in town" by refusing to act.
“Russia is a country of mafia rules. And Putin made an unforgivable mistake,” the financier told the Washington Post.
The uprising came about after months of infighting between Prigozhin and the leaders of the Russian military, which Washington Post sources believe will continue despite Moscow's attempts to create the appearance of a united front.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Washington Post by claiming that the intelligence had been shared “by people who have zero information.”
Convoys of Wagner fighters have been arriving in Belarus since July 15 as part of the deal Lukashenko allegedly brokered following the uprising.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on July 14 that it had developed a “roadmap” for future cooperation with the Wagner Group on “training and transferring experience between units of different branches of the armed forces.”
Francis Farrell
