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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks after trading major attacks
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are holding a second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, although expectations are low for any significant progress on ending the three-year war. The meeting in Istanbul comes after a string of major attacks over the weekend. Ukraine said on Sunday that it had launched a spectacular surprise attack on five Russian air bases, ranging from targets close to Moscow to Russia's Arctic, Siberia and Far East. The talks are being held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) The targets were more than 4,300 miles from Ukraine. More than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed, Ukraine claimed, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called a 'brilliant operation' that involved more than a year of planning. Also on Sunday, Russia launched its biggest number of drones — 472 — on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said, in an apparent effort to overwhelm air defences. US-led efforts to push the two sides into accepting a ceasefire have failed. Ukraine accepted that step, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed late on Sunday that 'Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and prolong the war in order to make additional battlefield gains'. Members of the Russian delegation arrive at the Ciragan Palace (Emrah Gurel/AP) Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on key conditions for stopping the war. The first round of talks on May 16, also in Istanbul, ended after less than two hours. While both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, there was no breakthrough. The Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul for Monday's meeting is led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, according to Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. Moscow's delegation, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived on Sunday evening, Russian state media reported. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is chairing the talks at the city's Ciragan Palace and gave an opening speech to mark their start. Fierce fighting has continued along the roughly 620-mile front line, and both sides have hit each other's territory with deep strikes. Ukrainian drones struck near Rylsk in the western Kursk region of Russia (Alexander Khinshtein/AP) Russian air defences downed 162 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday. Ukrainian air defenscs damaged 52 out of 80 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Two ballistic missiles struck a residential neighbourhood in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, including one that hit near a school, the city's mayor said. One missile landed near an apartment building, while the second struck a road near the school, Ihor Terekhov said in a statement with a photo of a wide crater. 'Standing next to the crater, you realise how different it all could have been,' he wrote. 'A few more metres — and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes — and cars, buses would have been on the road.' No casualties were reported.
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks after trading major attacks
The meeting in Istanbul comes after a string of major attacks over the weekend. Ukraine said on Sunday that it had launched a spectacular surprise attack on five Russian air bases, ranging from targets close to Moscow to Russia's Arctic, Siberia and Far East. The talks are being held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) The targets were more than 4,300 miles from Ukraine. More than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed, Ukraine claimed, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called a 'brilliant operation' that involved more than a year of planning. Also on Sunday, Russia launched its biggest number of drones — 472 — on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said, in an apparent effort to overwhelm air defences. US-led efforts to push the two sides into accepting a ceasefire have failed. Ukraine accepted that step, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed late on Sunday that 'Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and prolong the war in order to make additional battlefield gains'. Members of the Russian delegation arrive at the Ciragan Palace (Emrah Gurel/AP) Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on key conditions for stopping the war. The first round of talks on May 16, also in Istanbul, ended after less than two hours. While both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, there was no breakthrough. The Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul for Monday's meeting is led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, according to Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. Moscow's delegation, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived on Sunday evening, Russian state media reported. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is chairing the talks at the city's Ciragan Palace and gave an opening speech to mark their start. Fierce fighting has continued along the roughly 620-mile front line, and both sides have hit each other's territory with deep strikes. Ukrainian drones struck near Rylsk in the western Kursk region of Russia (Alexander Khinshtein/AP) Russian air defences downed 162 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday. Ukrainian air defenscs damaged 52 out of 80 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Two ballistic missiles struck a residential neighbourhood in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, including one that hit near a school, the city's mayor said. One missile landed near an apartment building, while the second struck a road near the school, Ihor Terekhov said in a statement with a photo of a wide crater. 'Standing next to the crater, you realise how different it all could have been,' he wrote. 'A few more metres — and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes — and cars, buses would have been on the road.' No casualties were reported.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks after trading major attacks
The meeting in Istanbul comes after a string of major attacks over the weekend. Ukraine said on Sunday that it had launched a spectacular surprise attack on five Russian air bases, ranging from targets close to Moscow to Russia's Arctic, Siberia and Far East. The talks are being held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) The targets were more than 4,300 miles from Ukraine. More than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed, Ukraine claimed, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called a 'brilliant operation' that involved more than a year of planning. Also on Sunday, Russia launched its biggest number of drones — 472 — on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said, in an apparent effort to overwhelm air defences. US-led efforts to push the two sides into accepting a ceasefire have failed. Ukraine accepted that step, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed late on Sunday that 'Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and prolong the war in order to make additional battlefield gains'. Members of the Russian delegation arrive at the Ciragan Palace (Emrah Gurel/AP) Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on key conditions for stopping the war. The first round of talks on May 16, also in Istanbul, ended after less than two hours. While both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, there was no breakthrough. The Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul for Monday's meeting is led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, according to Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. Moscow's delegation, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived on Sunday evening, Russian state media reported. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is presiding over the talks with officials from the Turkish intelligence agency also present. Fierce fighting has continued along the roughly 620-mile front line, and both sides have hit each other's territory with deep strikes. Ukrainian drones struck near Rylsk in the western Kursk region of Russia (Alexander Khinshtein/AP) Russian air defences downed 162 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday. Ukrainian air defenscs damaged 52 out of 80 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Two ballistic missiles struck a residential neighbourhood in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, including one that hit near a school, the city's mayor said. One missile landed near an apartment building, while the second struck a road near the school, Ihor Terekhov said in a statement with a photo of a wide crater. 'Standing next to the crater, you realise how different it all could have been,' he wrote. 'A few more metres — and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes — and cars, buses would have been on the road.' No casualties were reported.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anzac spirit infuses Super Rugby; Hurricanes break an Australian drought
New Zealand soldiers stand during the international service in recognition of the Gallipoli campaign at Mehmetcik monument, a day before ANZAC Day, in the Gallipoli peninsula near Canakkale, Turkey, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The 11th round of Super Rugby was played over an Anzac Day long weekend when bonds between Australians and New Zealanders forged in war were reinforced on playing fields in both countries. There were three trans-Tasman matches during the round, and New Zealand clubs won two of them. Advertisement The Hamilton-based Chiefs beat the Western Force 56-22 and the Wellington-based Hurricanes became the first New Zealand franchise to win in Australia this season when they beat the Canberra-based Brumbies 35-29. Queensland Reds beat the Auckland-based Blues 35-21 in Brisbane. The Player of the Match in the Reds-Blues match was awarded the Sellars-Dixon Medal, commemorating Queensland flyhalf Billy Dixon and Auckland hooker George Dixon, both of whom died in World War I. Queensland captain Tate McDermott has called for the Reds-Blues match to become a regular Anzac Day fixture. 'Anzac Day is an incredibly special day for a number of reasons. Hopefully, we can bring people together and do our small part in showing what the Anzac spirit means,' McDermott said. Advertisement Anzac Day commemorates the Australia New Zealand Army Corps and remembers the war dead of both nations. It falls on April 25, the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in World War I in 1915 when Australians and New Zealanders landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. More than 8,000 Australians and almost 3,000 New Zealanders died at Gallipoli and through that sacrifice their nations have been linked ever since in war and peace. There have been 15 matches this season between teams from Australia and New Zealand and the tally is seven wins, seven losses and a draw for each nation. Of those games, 11 have been won by the home team and only three by away teams. Two of the away wins were by Australian teams in New Zealand. No New Zealand team had been able to win in Australia until the Hurricanes broke the drought in the Australian capital on Saturday. Advertisement 'I've been playing Super Rugby for eight or nine years now and I've never won in Canberra,' Hurricanes captain DuPlessis Kirifi said. 'So to come over here and get one across is pretty pleasing, not just for the game itself. Our season was on the line. 'It's no easy feat coming here and beating the Brumbies at home.' Previously, the Brumbies beat the Blues 21-20 in Auckland in Round 4 and the Queensland Reds beat the Highlanders 29-23 in Dunedin in Round 6. A 17-17 stalemate between Western Force and the Hurricanes in Round 10 could not be broken by golden point extra time. Those results may underline the critical importance of home advantage in the playoffs. At the end of the regular season, the top six teams will progress to the playoffs with the top three teams having home advantage on the first weekend. Advertisement For the remainder of the playoffs, including the final, the top-ranked team will play at home. After the 11th round the Chiefs and Christchurch-based Crusaders lead the standings with 37 points — the Chiefs ranked ahead on points differential. The Brumbies dropped back to third place in a costly loss to the Hurricanes, who moved up to fifth. The Reds are fourth and the Western Force sixth. Ikitau to Exeter Brumbies and Wallabies center Len Ikitau has signed a new two-year deal with Rugby Australia which locks him in for the 2027 World Cup but also allows him a short sabbatical with the English club Exeter. Advertisement The 26-year-old veteran of 39 tests will join Exeter later this year but return to Australia in time for the 2026 international season. 'I'm really happy to have my future sorted and I can now put my full focus into performing well for the Brumbies and hopefully the Wallabies later this year,' Ikitau said. 'To know (I'll) be coming back home to Canberra and the Brumbies is very reassuring, especially with the home Rugby World Cup not far away.' ___ AP rugby:
