Latest news with #Vyshyvanka
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Sudburians don the ‘spiritual armour of Ukrainian people'
The third Thursday of May is Vyshyvanka Day, not just in Ukraine but anywhere you find Ukrainians. Sudbury has a strong Ukrainian heritage and presence. The signs at the corner of Paris and Elm in Hnatyshyn Park called World Vyshyvanka Day's embroidered shirts 'the spiritual armour of Ukrainian people.' It isn't a holiday but an expression of cultural identity. It is relatively new but does predate the war in Ukraine. In 2006, students at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivitsi National University proposed dedicating one day each year to this effort. Now, I am told, people wear the decorated blouses to the office, in banks, at school and, in fact, everywhere. Rather than having it as a Saturday event, this demonstrates it is a part of everyday life. 'We have been doing this for many years to keep up the tradition,' said Taras Martyn, organizer of the event. He also lives at the Ukrainian Centre and is on the board of directors. 'Vyshyvanka is the visual icon of our people. It is international and now quite a statement of solidarity. You are wearing your country. I have a closet full of them.' Different regions of the country have unique colours and patterns. 'White linen was the background; now it is on any surface.' Myron Baryckyj may have a Ukrainian surname but grew up in Sudbury; he went to York University, worked in southern Ontario but returned to Sudbury some years ago. Interestingly, he is actually English and Dutch. 'I was adopted into a Ukrainian family,' Baryckyj explained. 'I have embraced the world that welcomed me. I learned the language, I was in the choir and my adoptive mother taught language school on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings. 'I think I know just about everyone in our community. I have my linen shirt and I think my mother may have put it together.' The cuffs, too, sport the decorative element. The turnout for the event grew after 4:30 p.m. and it became quite a party with attendees of all ages. 'It is now after work so people can come,' said Sandra Sharko, president of the Ukrainian Centre. 'We have a lot of newcomers. Many new families – over 200 - moved here in the first year and a half of the war. We are still collecting support for humanitarian aid.' A bench and signage was set up for photos. Some were posting to social media and even sending pictures back to their homeland. Naturally, coffee and cookies were offered. Check out the Ukrainian Seniors Sudbury FaceBook page for future events. Activities include the Blueberry Festival, the Garlic Festival and much more. The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government. Bluesky: @ X: @SudburyStar
CTV News
18-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Local Ukrainian community celebrates Vyshyvanka Day
The Ukrainian community in Barrie held their third annual 'Vyshyvanka' festival, celebrating the international day of Ukrainian heritage.
Jordan Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Ukraine, Russia to hold first direct talks since 2022
Museum employees wearing 'Vyshyvankas', traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouses, stand close to a sculpture of a girl dressed in Vyshyvanka during "Vyshyvanka Day", outside The Holodomor Genocide Museum in Kyiv on May 15, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP photo) ISTANBUL — War rivals Ukraine and Russia are set to go into their first direct talks in more than three years on Thursday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin not included on the list of attendees. Ukraine's President VolodymyrZelensky had challenged Putin to meet him in person in Istanbul, but the Russian delegation names only a lower-level team. Putin's absence would diminish the importance of the first direct negotiations since a failed effort in the weeks after Russia's 2022 invasion. Tens of thousands have been killed since the offensive started in February 2022. Russia has occupied about a fifth of Ukraine's territory in what is now Europe's worst conflict since World War II. Putin had proposed holding talks on May 15 in Istanbul as a counter-offer after Ukraine and European nations last week called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Zelensky agreed, but said this week that if Putin did not attend himself, it would signal he was not genuinely interested in peace. "This is his war... Therefore, the negotiations should be with him," Zelensky said. The Kremlin delegation is set to be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Putin and ex-culture minister who was involved in the 2022 negotiations. Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov -- who had all been rumoured as top negotiators after leading previous talks with the United States -- were not named in the Kremlin's delegation list. Europe's sanctions warning Medinsky is seen as influential in advancing Russia's historical claims over Ukrainian territory. The other three negotiators were named as Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin and Igor Kostyukov, director of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. European leaders have said new sanctions will be quickly imposed on Russia if the Istanbul talks do not produce results. On the eve of the talks, Zelensky said he would decide Ukraine's next "steps" based on who represents Moscow. "Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations, and we are not afraid of meetings. Tomorrow - in Turkey," Zelensky said. "I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia. Then I will decide what steps Ukraine should take." Russia insists the talks address what it calls the "root causes" of the conflict, including the "denazification" and demilitarisation of Ukraine, two vague terms Moscow has used to justify its invasion. It has also repeated that Ukraine must cede territory occupied by Russian troops. Kyiv said it will not recognise its territories as Russian -- though Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine might only get them back through diplomatic means. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will be in Istanbul on Friday. Rubio met Ukraine's Foreign Minister AndriySybiga at a NATO meeting in Turkey on Wednesday. And US President Donald Trump on Wednesday indicated he could take a mediation role in Turkey. "I don't know that he [Putin] would be there if I'm not there," Trump told reporters accompanying him on a Middle East tour. "I know he would like me to be there, and that's a possibility. If we could end the war, I'd be thinking about that," he said.
