On May 8, Russia announced it was withdrawing from trilateral negotiations with the US and Ukraine, demanding that Ukraine fully withdraw from Donbas as a precondition for further discussions. The ceasefire declared by Russia did not take effect—Ukrainian positions continued to come under attack and air raid sirens were heard nationwide. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, there were 140 attacks and over 850 drone strikes by Russian forces overnight.
European countries expressed readiness to launch their own peace initiative, although the EU’s position is still being shaped. As reported by the Financial Times, EU leaders are preparing for potential direct talks with Vladimir Putin as frustration mounts over the stalled US-led process.
Meanwhile, hostilities in the Middle East are escalating. Iran and the US exchanged fire, rockets and drones reached the UAE, and Saudi Arabia barred the US from using its bases for operations against Iran. The US president reported a truce remains in effect, but indicated future action is possible.
Overnight drone attacks on Russian targets damaged fuel and industrial facilities. The Russian side claimed to have shot down 264 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine’s air defense systems are running low on missiles because of persistent mass attacks and increasing global demand for air defense systems.
The end of trilateral talks marks a new stage in the search for a path to peace. Ukraine maintains a mirrored response to both offensive and peace initiatives as international partners intensify efforts to find compromise.
