Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 05-09-2025

The sanctions signed Friday apply to business directors, politicians, and cultural figures.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday signed a presidential decree to impose sanctions against figures in Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong for their support of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decree №301/2025 includes 74 legal entities, mainly enterprises related to the defense-industrial sector. It also includes 58 individuals, including cultural figures, business directors, and a member of the United Russia Party.

Security sources contacted by AFP said that foreign paramilitaries, estimated at around 300, were still bringing in material, weapons and vehicles to Equatorial Guinea.

Russian military personnel stationed in Equatorial Guinea took part in demonstrations on Friday in Malabo to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

Their presence in the small Spanish-speaking central African nation stems from military agreements passed last year to deploy Russian “instructors” for training purposes.

What do a North Korean soldier, an action star, and the leader of Slovakia have in common? They were all seen in Moscow on May 9, 2025, for Russia’s Victory Day parade.

North Korean Troops, Slovakia’s prime minister, and straight-to-home-video action star Steven Seagal – Moscow’s 2025 Victory Day parade on Friday kicked off with a peculiar mix of attendees.

Moscow’s 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in Europe was attended by an array of foreign leaders amid heightened security threats in Moscow. The event involved parades by over 10,000 Russian troops (in addition to a smaller number of Chinese and North Korean troops), as well as displays of military hardware including tanks, missiles and attack drones.

The expulsion of two Hungarian diplomats came as a tit for tat move following Kyiv’s revelation that Hungarian spies tried to determine the level of local support to a possible invasion by Budapest.

Ukraine expelled two Hungarian diplomats on Friday evening after Ukrainian intelligence broke up a Hungarian spy ring who was allegedly preparing for a potential invasion in western Ukraine earlier the same day. 

“Two Hungarian diplomats must leave our country within 48 hours. We have just summoned Hungarian Ambassador to [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine] and presented him with the relevant note,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced on X. 

Putin’s May 9 parade distorts WWII history to glorify Russia, while world leaders should reject his propaganda amid ongoing war crimes and threats against Ukraine.

On May 9, President Vladimir Putin presided over an annual military parade in Red Square to celebrate “Victory Day,” commemorating the 80th anniversary of Russia’s Second World War defeat of the Nazis.

World leaders were invited to pay homage to Putin’s fiction that Russia is a great superpower that single-handedly forced Germany to capitulate in 1945.

US President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO allies ramp up their military spending to 5% of GDP, a level that not even the United States currently hits.

NATO chief Mark Rutte wants member countries to agree at a summit in June to reach 5% of GDP on defense-related spending by 2032, Dutch premier Dick Schoof said Friday.

US President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO allies ramp up their military spending to 5% of GDP, a level that not even the United States currently hits.

French President Emmanuel Macron joined a number of Western leaders to back Ukraine’s 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposal.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that the West is “ready to respond firmly” if Russia refuses the West’s 30-day ceasefire proposal. 

Macron’s statement followed similar comments by a number of northern European nations and the UK during a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) coalition in Oslo earlier on Friday.

“President Putin is on the side of war, not the side of peace.” – Macron

France and Poland on Friday signed a treaty committing both sides to mutual assistance in the case of an attack by an aggressor, strengthening ties between the EU heavyweights in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The deal was signed in France’s eastern city of Nancy by French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, both among the strongest European backers of Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.

How Trump wants to make Victory Day great again — and why democracies and autocracies love military parades?

In 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for a grand military parade and the renaming of Victory in Europe Day — May 8th — into “Victory Day for World War II,” a direct challenge to Russia’s monopoly over the cult of militarized triumph. Why do democracies and autocracies alike invest in extravagant displays of symbolic power? And can such theatrics substitute for genuine victory over modern fascism?

American grandeur on parade

President Trump declared that the United States should rebrand May 8th, long commemorated as VE Day, into a broader Victory Day for World War II. “We did more than any other country to bring about the Allied victory,” he wrote on Truth Social. He further proposed renaming Veterans Day (November 11th) as “Victory Day for World War I,” arguing that America should honor its military wins: “We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything. That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! So we are going to start celebrating our victories again!”

The EU will not extend the suspension of import duties on Ukrainian exports after June 5, but it has made an exception for some goods.

The EU will extend the suspension of import duties on Ukrainian iron and steel products until 2028 under the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) Regulation, the EU Parlament reported on May 8. 

“Ukraine’s steel industry is the backbone of the Ukrainian economy… The deepening of trade relations between the EU and Ukraine is not a matter of charity, but a mutually beneficial exchange that strengthens both parties,” the EU Parliament’s rapporteur Karin Karlsbro said. 

“Wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny.” – Winston Churchill

I dare say it would have come as some disappointment to the cheering crowds in Trafalgar Square, London on May 8, 1945 to know that 80 years on, despite humanity having advanced so far that all of us would possess little pocket-sized rectangular devices that give access to every piece of knowledge known to humankind, our friends in the East would wake every night to the sound of air raids and bombs.

Yes, it is disappointing. Mightily so. But the spirit that saw that struggle for freedom has not waned. Winston Churchill stood and addressed the crowds on that day from the balcony of the Ministry for Health, and the things he said, if taken out of context, could have been uttered in Kyiv today without anyone noticing their provenance:

Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats which it claimed were spying, following SBU’s arrest of two alleged Hungarian agents gauging if Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarians would support a Hungarian invasion.

On Friday, May 9, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Budapest is expelling two Ukrainian diplomats which Budapest accused of spying for Ukraine.

The sudden accusation came after, earlier that morning, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) reported it had detained two individuals for allegedly spying for Hungary – both former soldiers.

Lev Parnas reveals how Trump ran foreign policy through unofficial envoys like Steve Witkoff and Rudy Giuliani, bypassing US channels in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Merz has signaled Germany’s intent to play a key role in driving the continent’s rearmament – faced with US disengagement and war on its doorstep in Ukraine.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz made clear Friday that Berlin was back at the European top table, ready to help steer the bloc at a time of dizzying challenges, as the new chancellor made his maiden visit to Brussels.

After back-to-back trips to boost ties with key neighbors Paris and Warsaw, Merz’s visit sought to turn the page on months of political turbulence that left Berlin hamstrung on the EU stage.

This new tribunal seeks to close that loophole and focuses on trying to hold the top roughly 20 to 30 officials in Russia responsible for the all-out assault.

Ukraine and its backers on Friday gave their green light to setting up a special tribunal to try Russia’s top leadership for the “crime of aggression”.

But what does this mean and how will it work?

A drone hit Belgorod’s government HQ, injuring the deputy governor and a Russian Guard officer, regional officials said. Ukraine has not commented.

A drone struck the government building of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast on the morning of Friday, May 9, injuring the deputy governor, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Gladkov shared the first video of the aftermath on Telegram at 8:43 a.m.

UK PM Sir Keir Starmer announced the largest-ever sanctions package against Russia, targeting its shadow oil fleet intended to apply yet more pressure on Russia.

The UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced the largest sanctions package to date against Russia.

In a post on X, he emphasized that the threat posed by Russia to the UK’s national security is serious and must not be underestimated.

EU foreign ministers gathered in Lviv on Europe Day to back a special tribunal targeting Russia’s leadership for the invasion of Ukraine.

EU foreign ministers on Friday approved a tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top leadership for “the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” as they gathered in Lviv on the same day Russia commemorates the end of World War II with a grand military parade in Moscow.

“We welcome the completion of the technical work on the draft legal instruments necessary to establish within the framework of the Council of Europe a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine,” said a joint statement published by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on May 9.

Budapest ordered its spies to find out whether ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine might support invasion by the Hungarian army. Communications was by Signal.

Budapest’s national military intelligence agency operated a clandestine spy network in west Ukraine with the mission of determining the level of local support to a possible invasion by Hungarian troops, the Security Service of Ukraine (Служба безпеки України – SBU) said in a Friday statement.

SBU counter-intelligence operators in Ukraine’s far-western Zakarpattia (old name: Transcarpathia) region arrested two Ukrainian citizens secretly recruited to determine whether or not people living there would approve of a Hungarian “peacekeeping contingent” sent to the province, among other hostile spy missions ordered by Hungary and targeting Ukrainian national security, SBU spokesman Artem Dekhtaryenko said in the video announcement.

Ukrainian drones rescued three captured HUR soldiers in a daring battlefield operation, with one fighter saying: “There was hell in my chest from the gas they poisoned us with.”

Ukrainian military intelligence operators carried out a rescue operation on the Zaporizhzhia front, freeing their comrades from Russian captivity on the battlefield.

“The Thriller from the Zaporizhzhia Front - special forces of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) rescued their brothers from the occupiers’ captivity right on the battlefield,” read the caption of a video published on Telegram by the agency.

The “Spartan Kyiv 2025” a charity obstacle race held in Kyiv inspired by the daring “Sky” operation, when Ukrainian pilots broke through to the encircled defenders of Azovstal.

A large-scale charity obstacle race, “Spartan Kyiv 2025,” that will take place in Ukraine’s capital this May commemorate a unique air mission — the high-risk effort to support and evacuate encircled Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol in 2022.

Operation “Sky” is considered one of the most audacious air missions of the modern era. Ukrainian pilots flew deep into Russian-occupied Mariupol under heavy enemy fire to deliver weapons, medicine, and critical support to the defenders of the Azovstal steel plant. Sixteen helicopters, seven flights, and dozens of lives saved — all bordering on the impossible.

Trump on Thursday called for “a 30-day unconditional ceasefire” on his Truth Social network after speaking to Zelensky.

Norway’s prime minister on Friday said a group of northern European nations and the UK supported a US proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

“We need a ceasefire, an unconditional ceasefire, first,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) coalition in Oslo.

The US and Russia reportedly discussed a deal for American firms to help resume Russian gas flows to Europe as part of broader peace talks on Ukraine.

The United States and Russia have reportedly held closed-door talks discussing the possible resumption of Russian gas exports to Europe with American involvement.

The negotiations included discussions on potential US investor participation in acquiring Ukraine’s gas transmission system or even stakes in Russian pipelines such as Nord Stream. Russia has officially denied that such talks took place.

Behind the red banners and military displays, the annual celebration also served as a platform to justify Russia’s war in Ukraine. Here’s what Putin said – and what was left unsaid.

At Moscow’s Victory Day parade, President Vladimir Putin marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, drawing on familiar themes of unity, sacrifice, and national pride.

More than 20 world leaders attended, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected by fellow cardinals to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics after a secret conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

Before becoming pope, the first US-born pontiff was outspoken in his criticism of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, posts that resurfaced Thursday as Pope Leo XIV officially assumed leadership of the Catholic Church.

Fellow cardinals on Thursday elected Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics after a secret conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

In this episode, the Editor-in-Chief at Kyiv Post, Bohdan Nahaylo, talks about why Crimea is suddenly central to diplomatic discussions.

Russia marks its victory in the ‘Great Patriotic War’ with an annual military parade on 9 May. Europe’s commentators reflect in light of the current conflicts.

On 8 May eighty years ago, World War II came to an end in Europe with the surrender of Nazi Germany: an occasion to be remembered. Russia marks its victory in the ‘Great Patriotic War’ with an annual military parade on 9 May. Europe’s commentators reflect in light of the current conflicts.

Heroes who gave us a better world

The Speaker of the US Congress and lawmakers condemn the Islamic regime for providing Russia with drones to attack Ukrainian civilians, call for full Iranian ‘nuclear disarmament’

The US House Speaker Mike Johnson and leading Republican lawmakers strongly condemned Iran for its contribution to conflicts around the world on Thursday – from Ukraine to the Middle East – as they stood next to a Shahed 136 drone captured in Ukraine and brought to the United States via Poland.

The weapon was displayed during an event inside the US Congress’s Cannon Office Building organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a nonprofit organization that focuses on countering threats posed by the Islamic regime, including its nuclear program and military actions.

Xi and Putin pledge deeper ties, call for peace talks on the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine as Moscow signals readiness for talks without preconditions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their nations’ strategic partnership during a tea meeting in Moscow on Thursday, May 8, pledging to deepen coordination amid global instability.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry official readout, Xi emphasized that China and Russia will continue to cooperate closely despite international pressures, saying no external force could block their development or their long-term friendship.

According to Russian educators and state-controlled media, the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany single-handedly.

Western arms deliveries to Moscow between 1941-45 were small in scale, didn’t help much, and a lot of it was obsolete, cast-off equipment the US and British armies didn’t want – that’s how the current Kremlin’s party line about Western WWII assistance goes.  

The reality was pretty different from the Russian Federation’s 2025 officially sanctioned narrative.

Ukraine says more than 20,000 children have been taken without the consent of family or guardians.

The European Parliament described Russia’s deportations of Ukrainian children as a “genocidal strategy” in new resolution.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow, with the support of the Belarusian regime, have been forcibly transferring Ukrainian civilians from occupied territories to Russian-controlled areas or into Russia itself.  

Ukraine expects two key agreements with the US to be finalized and signed early next week to launch the joint investment fund, Economy Minister Svyrydenko said.

The minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States, which has recently been ratified by the Verkhovna Rada, greenlights the remaining agreements, and the Ukrainian Economy Ministry expects to endorse them next week.

The relevant statement was made by the members of the negotiating team from Ukraine in a conversation with journalists, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The two most important guests at the parade are China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

More than two dozen foreign leaders are due in Moscow on Friday for Russia’s flagship Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The gathering of some of Moscow’s key partners comes as Europe attempts to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin isolated, despite a recent rapprochement between Moscow and Washington.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• The Kremlin continues to seize on the Russian mythos of the Second World War ahead of Russia’s May 9 Victory Day holiday to set informational conditions to justify a prolonged war in Ukraine and future aggression against NATO to Russian society.
• Belousov explicitly identified large-scale Russian military reforms as preparations for a future conflict with NATO as Russian Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev threatened European countries that support Ukraine.
• Russia claimed to have implemented its unilateral Victory Day ceasefire on May 8 and accused Ukraine of ceasefire violations even though Ukraine did not officially and publicly agree to Russia’s ceasefire. Russia’s unilateral Victory Day ceasefire and accusations of violations continue to demonstrate the necessity that any ceasefire or peace agreement be formally agreed to in advance by all parties and include robust monitoring mechanisms.
• Ukrainian officials continue to highlight Ukraine’s willingness to implement US President Donald Trump’s desired 30-day ceasefire to precede peace talks.
• The Kremlin is attempting to exploit its unilateral Victory Day ceasefire to blame Ukraine for the lack of progress toward a longer-term ceasefire and peace negotiations despite Russia’s continued rejection of such a longer-term ceasefire.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and People’s Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping conducted a series of bilateral engagements in Moscow on May 8, showcasing deeper Russian–Chinese cooperation and alignment.
• The joint Russian–Chinese statement on May 8 referenced Putin’s original aims in launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to lend international support and legitimacy to Russia’s goals and attempted justifications for the war.
• The joint Russian–Chinese statement supported Putin’s proposed Eurasian security architecture and Russia’s ongoing efforts to create a Russia-dominated alternative, anti-Western bloc.
• The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine’s (UN HRMMU) reported that Ukrainian civilian casualties have significantly increased between 2024 and 2025.
• The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada ratified the US-Ukrainian bilateral economic partnership agreement on May 8.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk. Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk and Sumy oblasts and near Kupyansk, Borova, Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.

Former US President Obama sends his congratulations to “fellow Chicagoan” as the West Side, South Side, and North Side embrace one of their own, the first American pontiff.

The election of Robert Francis Prevost as the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff stunned audiences in America on Thursday, especially those in his hometown of Chicago, as his much-awaited name was read in Latin from a balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

There has never before been a Pope from the United States.