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.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 10: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) (not pictured) at the U.S. Capitol on July 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Zelenskyy will meet with other congressional leaders on Capitol Hill as NATO congregates in Washington. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)
Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the Republican Party if Donald Trump is elected as the U.S. president, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv on July 15.
On the campaign trail, the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee has repeatedly said he could end Russia's war within 24 hours if elected president, without specifying the steps for reaching a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
In early July, Zelensky said that he is "potentially ready" to meet with Trump and urged him to reveal his planfor ending Russia's war against Ukraine so Kyiv can be prepared for any risks such a plan might entail.
Ukraine has bipartisan support and will develop relations with Washington regardless of the outcome of the presidential elections, Zelensky told journalists.
"As for U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's plan on ending the war, the general things are clear to me. If Donald Trump becomes president, we will work. I am not afraid of this," Zelensky said.
His remarks come days after the three-day NATO summit in Washington where alliesaffirmed Ukraine's "irreversible" path toward membership as well as $43 billion in funding for next year.
According to Zelensky, the agreed support will not be reconsidered, no matter who is the U.S. president.
The former U.S. president has long criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, and as the presumptiveRepublican nominee in the 2024 U.S. elections, his sway over the party had contributed to the months-long deadlock in Congress over U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.
Asami Terajima
