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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a three-hour meeting on April 1 to discuss drone production and electronic warfare systems with senior members of the military and government.
Drones have been a vital tool in Ukraine's defense against Russia, and Zelensky said in January that surpassing Russia in drone operations is one of the top priorities for 2024.
Electronic warfare (EW) is crucial in defending against enemy drones, and involves jamming or overloading the drone's receiver with false frequencies, meaning they cannot reach their target.
Zelensky said the meeting's agenda included discussing the production plans for 2024 for "all types of drones," including bomber drones, scout drones, and "long-range drones for special missions."
The participants also "discussed how to ensure the flexibility of our defense industry," as "the needs of the front are constantly changing," Zelensky said.
The meeting resulted in decisions "regarding the simplification of the procurement procedure, the import of equipment, the increase in the production of shells for drones, and the training of operators."
Ukraine is also "building a complex control system for EW means to protect our soldiers and equipment from Russian drones," and is already being tested at the front. The military plans "to scale the project to the entire front," Zelensky said.
Participants of the meeting included Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov, and Security Service Chief Vasyl Maliuk.
Zelensky signed a decree in February creating a separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to drones. In March, Fedorov announced that seven Ukrainian vocational schools plan to start drone operation programs.
The same month, Syrskyi said the development and use of drones was his priority, describing the technology as being "the key" to Ukraine's advantage over Russia.
Oleksandr Tartachnyi
