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.
Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, is under threat of a Russian military occupation, according to comments made by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview on Jan. 20, 2022. (U.S. Embassy in Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a Washington Post interview on Jan. 20 that he believes Russia could occupy Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv and thus start a large-scale war.
"If Russia decides to enhance their escalation, of course they are going to do this on those territories where historically there are people who used to have family links to Russia," said Zelensky. "Kharkiv, which is under Ukrainian government control, could be occupied."
Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city, with a population of 1.4 million.
Zelensky's remarks contrast sharply with his televised address to the Ukrainian public on Jan. 19, in which he assured his citizens that the situation was "under control," and that the threat of a full-scale invasion was no higher than it had been during the last eight years of war with Russia, which invaded Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and parts of Donbas in 2014.
"These risks have long existed. They didn’t increase. What increased is the craze (in the news). Our land is not being under attack now — but your nerves are. They’re trying to make you feel anxiety all the time," Zelensky said on Jan. 19, a far cry from his remarks to the Washington Post the next day.
When asked by the Washington Post if U.S. President Joe Biden had given Ukraine enough military assistance to protect the country from Russia, Zelensky said no. He did however acknowledge that support from the Biden administration was "stronger than it was before."
On Jan. 19, Biden admitted during a press conference that the Western response to Russia would likely be less severe in the case of a "minor incursion" into Ukraine. Zelensky responded on Twitter, writing that there was "no such thing as minor incursions," without directly addressing Biden.
Biden rowed back on his comments the next day, saying that any Russian units moving across Ukrainian border would be an invasion, and provoke a response.
Fears of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine have been building for months, as Russia gradually massed troops and military equipment near Ukraine's borders, currently numbering an estimated 122,000 men.
Taras Chmut, head of the Ukrainian Military Center think-tank, told the Kyiv Independent that a large-scale escalation involving the capture of Kharkiv, among other key targets, seemed possible.
"We can see concrete intellegence which shows signs of a possible escalation of the war into a full-scale phase, which could include the occupation of more territory," he said.
Chmut added that any Russian territorial occupation would be made difficult by widespread guerilla resistance.
"It's one thing to destroy Ukraine's military and governance structures, but it's an altogether different matter to neutralise every man or woman who is ready to resist."
"There will be tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of them."
Meanwhile, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov called for calm, saying that there was "no cause for concern" and that he would not allow any outside force to take the city.
"Anyone who seeks to capture Kharkiv must understand that not only every Kharkivite, but also every Ukrainian will rise to defend our beloved city."
Max Hunder is a business reporter at the Kyiv Independent. He previously worked as a business reporter at the Kyiv Post focusing on infrastructure and energy. He is a graduate of Eton College and University College London, and has reported for international publications from London, Kyiv and Yerevan.
