Latest news with #VitaliKlitschko
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Pressure builds on Zelenskyy over corruption agency changes as protests continue
European leaders piled pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday to reverse a contentious decision to weaken the powers of two anti-corruption agencies, as demonstrators took to the streets of Kyiv for a second day. Ukraine's European backers including Germany, France and Sweden raised concerns about new legislation, which the Ukrainian president approved on Tuesday night. They warned it could hamper Kyiv's attempt to join the EU and hinder the fight against corruption. The bill – hastily endorsed by Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday – in effect places the agencies under government control. They are the national anti-corruption bureau (Nabu) and the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office (Sapo). Zelenskyy has defended the changes, saying they were needed to clean Ukraine's 'anti-corruption infrastructure' of Russian connections. They give sweeping powers to the prosecutor general's office, which now can close down cases against top officials. On Wednesday, he convened a meeting with the heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies at his presidential office in Kyiv. They had agreed to work constructively and to come up with a joint plan of action next week to strengthen Ukraine, he said. But Zelenskyy did not directly address criticism from civil society activists, who accuse him of mounting a power-grab and of falling to listen. Veterans, Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, and other prominent figures have called on the president to repeal the bill. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, also voiced her unhappiness about the legislative amendments. She had asked Ukraine's president for explanations and had conveyed to him her strong concerns, her spokesperson said. They added: 'The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise.' In a pointed message to Kyiv, the EU's defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, said trust during wartime was 'easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership … Transparency and open European dialogue is the only way to repair [it].' France's European minister, Benjamin Haddad, said there was still time for Ukraine to reverse its decision. 'It is not too late to go back on this,' he told France Inter radio. 'We will be extremely vigilant on the subject.' It is unclear if Zelenskyy will give in to pressure at home and abroad, or try to tough out what is turning into the biggest domestic political crisis of his premiership. Tuesday's street protests, which took place in several cities, were the first since Vladimir Putin's 2022 full-scale invasion. Civil-society leaders have accused the presidential administration of violating an informal contract with society. They say the agreement with government – that it was inappropriate to criticise official abuses because of the war with Russia – is definitively over. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion About 1,500 demonstrators gathered directly outside Zelenskyy's administration complex on Tuesday evening, shouting slogans beneath his window. They included 'shame', 'we are the power', and 'veto the law'. They held up anti-government banners, one of which read: 'Are you fucking crazy?' Posting on Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians faced a 'common enemy' in the shape of 'Russian occupiers'. Of public criticism, he said: 'We all hear what society says. We see what people expect from state institutions to ensure justice and the efficiency of each institution.' Yuri Sak, a former adviser to Ukraine's defence ministry, said Ukrainians had a strong historical tradition of protesting against anything that resembled authoritarianism or dictatorship, in Soviet times and today. 'It's in our DNA. We have a very good sense for where the red line is, and for when people cross this line. If anyone tries to tighten their grip on power people pour into the streets,' he said, citing the uprisings in 2004 and 2014 against perceived government misrule. Sak likened the collective mood to the air raid alerts that sound most evenings, when Kyiv and other cities came under Russian missile attack. 'Whenever we see authoritarianism on the move, a silent siren goes off in Ukrainian heads,' he suggested.
The Independent
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Anti-corruption protests target Zelensky in Kyiv ahead of crucial peace talks
Anti-government protests have broken out in Kyiv as hundreds flocked to the streets to oppose a decision to curb the powers of two anti-corruption agencies. Ukraine has toughened restrictions on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Amendments approved by Volodymyr Zelensky's party yesterday have rolled back the agencies' autonomy in favour of tighter executive control, a move the Ukrainian president says is needed to rid the organisations of 'Russian influence'. Angry protesters held signs reading 'F*** corruption' and 'Corruption = Death' while chanting 'Ukraine is not Russia'. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv and a prominent political opponent of Mr Zelensky, was among the protesters. Marta Kos, the EU's enlargement commissioner, said the move was a 'serious step back' for Kyiv's membership hopes, while French European affairs minister Benjamin Haddad said it 'not too late' for Kyiv to reverse the decision. It comes as a third round of talks is set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey after previous summits in May and June failed to yield any results, except agreement on swapping prisoners of war. Russian forces launched 71 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv's air force has said. A total of 26 drones struck their targets but the rest failed to reach their destination. Here is what the air force said in its morning report, according to Ukrainska Pravda: As of 09:00, air defence systems have shot down or jammed 27 Russian Shahed-type UAVs (and other types) in the north, east and centre of the country. Another 18 UAVs disappeared from radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare. A total of 26 UAV impacts were recorded in 14 locations and debris from downed drones fell in five locations. Drones were launched from Russia's Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions, and targeted Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Cherkasy regions, the air force added. Alex Croft23 July 2025 09:15 In pictures: Russia carries out 'July Storm' Navy test Alex Croft23 July 2025 08:43 France calls on Ukraine to reverse decision on anti-corruption agencies We've just heard from Benjamin Haddad, France's European Affairs minister, who said it is not too late for Ukraine to reverse its decision to roll back the autonomy of two anti-corruption agencies at the centre of the country's reform drive. Amendments passed yesterday grant the general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, several lawmakers said. The decision by Ukraine's executive has prompted protests in Kyiv and other cities across the country "It is not too late to go back on this," Haddad told France Inter radio. "We will be extremely vigilant on the subject." Alex Croft23 July 2025 08:17 Russia begins major 'July Storm' navy drill with 15,00 troops Russia has began huge navy drills with more than 150 vessels and 15,000 troops in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the defence ministry said. The 'July Storm' exercise will test the readiness of Russia's fleet for non-standard operations, including the use of long-range weapons and other advanced technologies, the ministry said. "At sea, the crews of the ships will practice deployment to combat areas, conducting anti-submarine operations, defending areas of deployment and economic activity,' it added. The will also practice "repelling attacks by air attack weapons, unmanned boats and enemy drones, ensuring the safety of navigation, striking enemy targets and naval groups'. More than 120 aircraft will take part and 10 coastal missile systems, the ministry said. Navy chief, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, will lead the exercise. Russia has the world's third most powerful navy after China and the United States, according to most public rankings, though the navy has suffered a series of high-profile losses in the Ukraine war. Alex Croft23 July 2025 07:47 Ukraine's military loses first French Mirage fighter jet in crash A Mirage 2000 fighter jet supplied to Ukraine from France crashed yesterday after experiencing equipment failure during an assignment, with the pilot ejecting safely, Ukraine's military said. It was the first loss of a Mirage jet since Ukraine's military started receiving them earlier this year. "Equipment failure occurred, which the pilot reported to the flight controller," a military statement said on Telegram. "The pilot then acted competently, as is expected in crisis situations, and successfully ejected. A rescue crew found the pilot in a stable condition. There were no casualties on the ground." Ukrainian news reports said the incident occurred in the northwestern Volyn region. Ukraine's military announced the arrival of the first batch of Mirage aircraft in February. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 07:15 Zelensky offers to meet Putin as Russia casts doubt on peace talks Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin face to face as Russia cast doubt on fresh peace talks being held this week. Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was working to 'prepare a leaders' meeting aimed at truly bringing this war to an end', as the Kremlin said it did not expect any breakthroughs from fresh negotiations being held in Istanbul on Wednesday. 'Our position is fully transparent. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started,' the Ukrainian president said. In May, Mr Zelensky challenged the Russian leader to meet him, saying he would be waiting in Turkey for him 'personally'. But on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was unlikely to agree to a peace deal and would continue 'pursuing our interests'. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:59 Ukraine military intelligence chief posts cryptic message after law on anti-corruption agencies passed Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov shared a cryptic message warning against infighting on his Telegram after Ukraine cleared a new law threatening the autonomy of the country's anti-corruption bodies. "Ukrainian history has taught us — a nation loses if it is torn apart by internal contradictions," Mr Budanov wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. "We have one common trouble, one enemy. Therefore, internal contradictions should be resolved through open dialogue to achieve a single common goal — to defend our country. I am confident that Ukraine will be saved by a strong military and institutions," Mr Budanov said. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:57 Russia says 33 Ukrainian drones destroyed overnight Russia's air defence systems destroyed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight in six regions, the Russian defence ministry said on its Telegram channel this morning. Most of these drones were downed near the border region between Ukraine and Russia, the ministry said. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:29 Ukraine allies looking for solutions in EU on Patriots, German minister says Ukraine's allies are looking to see whether some member states in the European Union could supply Ukraine with five Patriot missile defence systems, of which Germany is willing to finance two, Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said this morning. Mr Pistorius said Germany would have been willing to give two of its own systems to Ukraine but needed reassurance that it could replace them within six to eight months. "We are now looking for solutions that will allow us to identify Patriot systems in member states in Europe," he said. "So, it's not hopeless, but the prerequisite is that countries that have them are prepared to hand them over now so that others can pay for them and they can go to Ukraine," he added. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:14 Zelensky issues remarks after parliament votes on anti-corruption bodies In his nightly video address, issued well after midnight, Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken to National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine chief Semen Kryvonos and other top prosecutors. Anti-corruption bodies, he said, would continue to function "but without any Russian influence. It all must be cleansed.' "There must be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO [Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office] will continue their work," he said. "It's also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs." Mr Kryvonos had urged the Ukrainian president not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he called an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Arpan Rai
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Pacquiao-Barrios: Seven fighters who defied Father Time to win world titles in their 40s
Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring after a four-year absence to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title on Saturday night. Despite losing his last fight to Yorgenis Ugas in 2021, Pacquiao is going straight back in at the highest level as he looks to become a world champion again at the age of 46. The odds are stacked against the Filipino legend due to his advancing years, but he has pulled off improbable victories before to win belts in eight different weight divisions. Does he have one huge performance left in him? Well, he may take inspiration from several other fighters who defied Father Time to claim full versions of world titles in their 40s, proving that age can be just a number. Vitali Klitschko Let's start with the elder Klitschko brother. Due to the excellence of his younger sibling, Wladimir, and his own injury problems, Vitali Klitschko arguably doesn't get the credit he deserves. But he was a phenomenal fighter in his own right who held a version of the heavyweight title on multiple occasions. Vitali came back into the sport after four years away following fitness issues to claim the WBC title by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He would go on to make nine successful defences of his title, culminating with a fourth-round stoppage victory over Manuel Charr. That win came when Vitali was 41 years and 51 days old as he retired on top of the world with an impressive professional record of 45 wins and just two losses. Sam Soliman Soliman is one of the biggest boxing stars to come out of Australia in recent times, but he had to wait patiently to get his moment in the spotlight. Having fallen short when facing fellow Aussie Anthony Mundine for the vacant WBA super-middleweight title in 2007, Soliman got another shot at gold when he challenged Germany's Felix Sturm for his IBF middleweight title seven years later. Soliman entered the ring aged 40 years and 199 days, but he still managed to outwork Sturm to earn a unanimous decision victory in Germany. He became the oldest ever middleweight champion, although his reign was a short one as he was outpointed by Jermain Taylor a little over four months later. Soliman kept fighting for another decade, with his last bout being a points loss to Yuki Nonaka in Japan last year. Thulani Malinga Malinga spent the majority of his career in his homeland of South Africa, but then came over to the UK to challenge Chris Eubank for his WBO super-middleweight title in 1992. Eubank Jr edged a split decision to retain his title, and Malinga then fell short against Nigel Benn and Roy Jones Jr. However, he refused to give up on his dream of winning a world title and he finally got his reward when he avenged his loss to Benn to become champion at 40. He lost his belt in his next fight to Italy's Vincenzo Nardiello, but when Nardiello was beaten by Britain's Robin Reid, Malinga returned to the UK to try and win his title back. Just eight days after turning 42, Malinga beat Reid on points to regain his title in London. Once again, it proved to be a short reign as he then lost on points to another Brit, Richie Woodhall, three months later. George Foreman Foreman had an extraordinary career that spanned over a quarter of a century with a 10-year gap in the middle. During his rise in the early 1970s, Foreman was a wrecking ball off a heavyweight who destroyed everyone in his path until he bumped into Muhammad Ali. That 'Rumble in the Jungle' defeat rocked Foreman and he struggled to get back to his best as he walked away from the sport after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977. Foreman became a pastor in his hometown in Houston and few expected him to return to the ring, but he made a stunning comeback in 1987. After losing world title fights to Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison, Foreman got one final shot at glory against Michael Moorer. 'Big George' was behind on the scorecards going into the latter rounds before unleashing a thunderous right hand that left Moorer out for the count as he became champion again at the age of 45. Foreman defended his IBF belt against Axel Schulz when he was aged 46 years and 102 days, and he remains the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Cornelius Bundrage Bundrage was 15 years into his professional career when he got his first world title opportunity against Cory Spinks. He knocked out his fellow American inside five rounds to capture the IBF light-middleweight title and would go on to make two successful defences before losing to Ishe Smith. That defeat came just a couple of months before his 40th birthday, and some may have expected Bundrage's time at the top level to be over. But he received another chance to reclaim his old belt against Carlos Molina and he took it. Bundrage beat Molina via unanimous decision as he became champion again at 41 years and 169 days old. Eleven months later, Bundrage's time as champion came to an end as he was stopped in the third round by Jermall Charlo. Bernard Hopkins Hopkins was beaten on his professional debut in 1988. Nobody could have predicted what he would go on to achieve. He ruled the middleweight division for the best part of a decade around the turn of the millennium, and then jumped up to light-heavyweight once he had moved into his 40s. Hopkins' clean-living lifestyle meant he was still able to compete with the best and he beat Antonio Tarver to claim The Ring light-heavyweight title in 2006 when he was 41. He lost to Joe Calzaghe two years later, but remained adamant he still had plenty left to offer. Hopkins was proved right as he outpointed Jean Pascal in 2011 to surpass Foreman's record as the oldest world champion ever. Two years later, he was back for more as he beat Tavoris Cloud to win the IBF belt, and he then won a unification clash against Beibut Shumenov when he was 49 years and 94 days old. Hopkins lost the last two fights of his career to Sergey Kovalev and Joe Smith Jr, but his longevity in the sport was simply incredible. Manny Pacquiao It's only right to finish with the man himself who will be looking to roll back the years this weekend. Pacquiao has achieved so much in his career that it is easy to forget he has already won a world title since turning 40. Back in 2019, Pacquiao took on Keith Thurman for the WBA (Super) welterweight title in Las Vegas. 'Pac-Man' knocked his rival down in the first round and then hurt Thurman again with a body shot in the 10th round. There was very little to separate the pair, but it was Pacquiao who got the nod by split decision as he was crowned champion at 40. Six years on, Pacquiao may feel that a similar performance could get the job done against Barrios. But does he have enough left in the tank? We will get our answer on Saturday night.
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Russian strikes on Kyiv kill one, school burning: Officials - War in Ukraine
Russian strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Monday killed at least one person and left a shop and school on fire, according to city officials. "Unfortunately, we have information about one person who died as a result of the attack," the head of Kyiv's military adminsitration Tymur Tkachenko said on Telegram. Four districts of the city were attacked, with reports of burning residential buildings, a kiosk and a kindergarten, Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said in another Telegram post. The entrance to the Lukyanivska metro station was also damaged, he added. The strikes come days after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had proposed a new round of peace talks to Moscow. So far two rounds of talks in Istanbul have failed to result in any progress towards a ceasefire, instead yielding large-scale prisoner exchanges and deals to return the bodies of killed soldiers. The Kremlin said this month it was ready to continue talks with Ukraine after US President Donald Trump gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal or face sanctions. The European Union on Friday agreed an 18th package of sanctions on Moscow that targets Russian banks and lowers a price cap on oil exports, in a bid to curb its ability to fund the war. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Nato forced to scramble warplanes for 13th time in weeks after Putin's attack
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vladimir Putin unleashed yet another round of bombardments on Ukraine – close to the borders of four Western nations – forcing Nato to scramble its warplanes. It is the 13th time in a few weeks that the alliance has publicly admitted to deploying jets in response to a widespread Russian attack, but the number could be much higher. Missiles and drones pounded the Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk – one of the heaviest attacks in the war – reaching between 60 and 105 miles from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. For the past two months, Russia's nighttime strikes have strained Ukraine's air defences, and last night was no different. At least one person has been killed and seven others injured in Kyiv, where its 3.7 million residents are exhausted and on edge. Explosions lit up the night sky as the high-pitched whine of drone engines echoed off the walls of the capital's high-rise buildings. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers and medics were working on sites in four districts. A subway station in central Kyiv, commercial property, shops, houses and a kindergarten have been heavily damaged. Footage shows the Lukianivska metro station filling with smoke and debris as residents who were shielded inside the makeshift bomb shelter scrambled for safety. Ukraine's air force said that Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight across the country, but that only 23 drones hit their targets. At the scene of a strike, dazed residents stood amid shattered glass and scorched walls, surveying the damage after a drone hit the lower floors of an apartment building. In the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, several hundred miles west of Kyiv, four people including a 12-year-old boy were injured in the overnight attack, according to the state emergencies service. Attack drones were also intercepted over the regions of Sumy, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Kherson. More Trending Volodymyr Zelensky said on X: 'Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. 'The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning. In the morning, 'shaheds' once again targeted the Kharkiv region. 'During the shelling, mobile fire groups, army aviation, electronic warfare units, Air Force warriors, and interceptor drones were in action. 'Many targets were shot down – but unfortunately, not all.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Moscow airports in chaos after fourth night of Ukraine drone strikes on city MORE: Tsunami threat looms over Russia and Hawaii after series of earthquakes MORE: War planes scrambled over Nato country after Russia launches latest barage
