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.
Ministers and advisors of various countries will hold further meetings on the three points of Ukraine's peace plan discussed at the peace summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland on June 15-16, the Ukrainian Presidential Office said.
Instead of focusing on all ten areas of Ukraine's 10-point peace plan, participating delegations at the summit discussed three that were seen as having broad appeal to countries around the world: nuclear safety, food security, and the complete return of prisoners of war and civilians held captive by Russia.
"The next steps are to hold thematic talks on each item at the level of ministers and advisors. We already have the appropriate readiness for their organization from a number of countries," Deputy Head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office Ihor Zhovka wrote on Facebook.
According to Zhovka, France, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Norway, Poland, Canada, Qatar, Chile, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.K. have all signaled their readiness to participate in the talks.
After the thematic meetings, "we go out to the second summit that should lay the foundations of lasting and just peace," he wrote.
The summit brought together over 100 countries and organizations. This and subsequent summits are the focal points of Ukraine’s diplomatic push to turn up the pressure on Russia and its allies.
Russia and China both refused invitations to this summit.
Eighty countries including Ukraine, and four European institutions signed the final joint communique of the peace summit on June 16.
The countries notably absent from the list of signatories include India, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Indonesia, Bahrain, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
Ukraine's peace plan is a series of 10 conditions that it says must be met for there to be secure and lasting peace. Key among them are the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, nuclear security, food security, the return of all prisoners of war, justice for war crimes, and the protection of the environment and prevention of escalation.
Nate Ostiller
