By The Related Press
ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressured the necessity for a cease-fire in Ukraine in a phone name Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan’s workplace mentioned.
Erdogan additionally known as for an enchancment to the humanitarian state of affairs within the area, in keeping with the assertion.
The 2 leaders agreed the subsequent assembly between Russian and Ukrainian officers ought to be held in Istanbul, the assertion added, with out giving a time-frame.
In the meantime, a member of the Ukrainian delegation that’s in talks with Russia mentioned Sunday that the 2 sides have determined to satisfy in particular person starting on Monday. Nonetheless, Russia’s chief negotiator mentioned the in-person talks would start on Tuesday. Neither mentioned the place the talks can be held.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Zelenskyy: West wants extra braveness in serving to Ukraine combat again
— ‘My private tragedy’: Ukrainians brace for an assault on Black Sea jewel of Odesa
— Struggle shakes Europe’s path to power independence, local weather objectives
— World science decouples from Russian consultants, creating challenges in exploring house, preventing local weather change
– U.S.-funded humanitarian group delivers lifesaving medicines to hundreds in Ukraine
Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for extra protection
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
LVIV, Ukraine — A member of the Ukrainian delegation in talks with Russia on ending the month-long conflict says the 2 sides have determined to satisfy in particular person in Turkey starting on Monday.
Davyd Arakhamia, the chief in parliament of the faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the Folks get together, mentioned on Fb that the in-person talks have been agreed upon in a video session. He didn't give additional particulars.
Nonetheless, Russia’s chief negotiator mentioned the in-person talks would start on Tuesday, fairly than Monday.
The 2 sides have met beforehand with no deal reached.
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WARSAW, Poland – The sixteenth version of a well-liked half-marathon in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday was devoted in assist of Ukraine.
The annual occasion was known as the “Warsaw Half-Marathon of Peace” this 12 months. The organizers are donating a part of the proceeds and funds raised to a Polish charity and to 3 hospitals in Ukraine. A number of the 7,000 individuals have been additionally working to boost funds for Ukrainian refugee kids.
Greater than 2.2 million folks have fled to Poland since Feb. 24, when Russia launched its invasion of Poland’s neighbor, Ukraine.
Ukrainian refugees have been among the many feminine runners Sunday. Valentina Dushko, who belongs to one in all Ukraine’s oldest working golf equipment, mentioned she and her companions have been grateful to the organizers for the chance to run within the occasion.
“We thank all of the Poles for serving to us to get by means of this tough interval of life. Because of the Poles, we really feel as a lot at residence right here as attainable,” Dushko informed The Related Press.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a regulation limiting the reporting on troop and army gear motion except such info has been introduced or authorised by the army normal workers.
The state information company Ukrinform reported Sunday that the regulation requires potential jail phrases of three to eight years for violations.
The regulation bans “unauthorized dissemination of details about the course, motion of worldwide army help to Ukraine, the motion, motion or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or different army formations of Ukraine, dedicated in a state of martial regulation or a state of emergency,” Ukrinform mentioned.
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ROME — Ukraine’s power minister says no leaks of radioactive materials have been detected since Russian tanks fired at nuclear energy crops in Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia however that nightmares a few nuclear catastrophe preserve him awake at night time.
In an interview with one in all Corriere della Sera’s correspondents in Kyiv, German Galushchenko was quoted as saying that his nation’s nuclear crops “are a relentless fear.”
“I haven’t slept for a whole night time with the nightmare of nuclear catastrophe,” mentioned Galushchenko, who can be an official of the state firm that manages the nation’s 4 nuclear energy crops.
Referring to the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia services, Galushchenko mentioned that “fortunately each services are nonetheless within the arms of our technicians, however Russian armored carriers fired in opposition to the services.” Within the interview printed Sunday, he known as these actions “prison” and “completely irresponsible.”
With out citing a location, Galushchenko mentioned “one other gasoline pipeline was simply hit” and “total areas are left within the darkness and within the chilly, particularly within the area of Mariupol.”
He mentioned Russian bombs have left 800,000 houses with out electrical energy and 250,000 houses with out gasoline.
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HELSINKI — One of many final remaining passenger prepare hyperlinks from Russia into the European Union has been suspended following the departure of the final two Allegro high-speed trains from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.
Finland’s state-owned railway firm VR mentioned Friday it could droop companies between the Finnish capital and Russia’s second-largest metropolis on Sunday, closing one of many final public transport routes for Russians who wish to attain the EU.
Citing the sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the Finnish railway firm mentioned it was now not acceptable to function the route. It added that Finnish residents and “individuals who needed to depart from Russia have had sufficient time to depart.”
Solely a morning departure from Helsinki to St. Petersburg ran on Sunday, whereas the afternoon prepare was cancelled. Two departures from St. Petersburg left as scheduled.
Russians wishing to journey to Finland can accomplish that by means of crossing factors on the 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with Russia that stay open for personal automobiles. Bus companies to Finland proceed to function each from St. Petersburg and Moscow.
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DOHA, Qatar — France’s high diplomat is warning that the besieged Ukrainian metropolis of Mariupol is changing into a “second Aleppo,” the Syrian business capital that in 2016 noticed widespread Russian-backed destruction.
Overseas Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday informed the Doha Discussion board, a coverage convention in Qatar, that Russia’s “siege warfare” in opposition to Ukrainian cities ought to induce “collective guilt.”
“Civilian populations are slaughtered, annihilated, the struggling is horrible,” mentioned a visibly indignant Le Drian.
When requested whether or not he agreed with President Joe Biden’s comment in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin can't stay in energy, he mentioned solely that diplomacy with each side remained a French precedence.
Le Drian mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron was attempting to avert the worst in Ukraine by means of talks with each the Ukrainian and Russian presidents. A ceasefire stays essentially the most urgent activity, he added, in order that events can transfer onto thornier matters like Ukraine’s safety ensures and a attainable impartial army standing.
Le Drian mentioned the world is “at a tipping level” because the conflict continues to spiral, including, “It is a disaster that impacts us all.”
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BERLIN — Russian authorities have blocked the web site of German newspaper Bild, a part of their efforts to manage the message on Ukraine.
Communications and media regulator Roskomnadzor mentioned Sunday it blocked Bild’s web site at prosecutors’ request.
Instagram and Fb have been already blocked in Russia after Roskomnadzor mentioned they have been getting used to name for violence in opposition to Russian troopers. Russian authorities even have shut entry to international media web sites, together with BBC, European information community Euronews, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based web site Meduza.
Bild says it has been placing Russian-language reviews on Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and its slide towards “totalitarian dictatorship” on its web site, and elements of its reside video broadcasts have been subtitled in Russian. It famous that it additionally has a Russian-language Telegram channel.
Bild editor-in-chief Johannes Boie mentioned the choice to dam its web site in Russia “confirms us in our journalistic work for democracy, freedom and human rights.”
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WASHINGTON — The highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to “keep on script” as he offers with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sen. James Risch of Idaho’s feedback criticizing the president got here a day after Biden asserted on the finish of a significant handle in Poland that Russian President Vladimir Putin “can't stay in energy.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken and different administration officers on Sunday sought to stroll again Biden’s remarks, saying that Biden’s was not calling for regime change in Russia.
Risch, nonetheless, recommended Biden must be extra cautious along with his phrases on the worldwide stage.
“Please Mr. President, keep on script,” Risch mentioned in an look Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s army intelligence chief says that Russia may attempt to break Ukraine in two.
Kyrylo Budanov mentioned in remarks launched by the Protection Ministry on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has realized “he can’t swallow all the nation” and would doubtless attempt to break up the nation underneath “the Korean situation.” That’s a reference to the decades-old division between North and South Korea.
Budanov mentioned that “the occupiers will attempt to pull the occupied territories right into a single quasi-state construction and pit it in opposition to unbiased Ukraine.” He pointed to Russian makes an attempt to arrange parallel authorities constructions in occupied cities and to bar folks from utilizing the Ukrainian foreign money, the hryvnia.
Budanov predicted that Ukrainian resistance will develop right into a “whole” guerrilla warfare, derailing Russia’s makes an attempt.
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PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has distanced himself from U.S. President Joe Biden’s remark that Vladimir Putin “can't stay in energy.” He's urging efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Macron, who has spoken a number of instances to the Russian president in so-far unsuccessful peace-making efforts, is because of communicate once more with Putin on Sunday or Monday.
“We ought to be factual and … do every little thing in order that the state of affairs doesn’t get uncontrolled,” Macron mentioned Sunday on France-3 tv, when requested about Biden’s comment.
Macron mentioned: “I wouldn’t use these phrases, as a result of I proceed to talk to President Putin, as a result of what we wish to do collectively is that we wish to cease the conflict Russia launched in Ukraine, with out waging conflict and with out an escalation.”
He pressured that the U.S. stays an vital ally, saying, “We share many frequent values, however those that reside subsequent to Russia are the Europeans.”
Macron mentioned he'll speak with Putin a few proposed humanitarian hall for the besieged metropolis of Mariupol, additionally mentioned with Turkey and Greece.
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ISTANBUL – The Ukrainian embassy in Ankara says a bunch of 159 Ukrainian orphans has arrived within the southern Turkish metropolis of Antalya.
The girls and boys aged 4 to 18 have been evacuated from care houses within the Dnipro area, touring first to Poland by prepare earlier than flying to Turkey.
Welcoming the kids and 26 care workers, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar mentioned the intention was to shelter 2,000 kids and workers in Turkey.
“That is the primary group to come back however we're ready for the second group,” the Demiroren information company quoted Bodnar as saying at Antalya airport. “Kids will come from cities that the Russian military has bombed or could bomb.”
The group will keep in motels within the Mediterranean resort.
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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has stepped up his pleas for negotiations to finish the preventing in Ukraine.
Francis informed the general public in St. Peter’s Sq. on Sunday that “this merciless and mindless conflict” continues after greater than a month, representing “a defeat for all.”
He lamented that oldsters are burying their kids, and “the highly effective resolve and the poor die.” As soon as once more, he didn’t cite Russia by identify because the aggressor.
Referring to reviews that about one-half of all the kids in Ukraine have been displaced by the battle, Francis mentioned that “conflict doesn’t simply devastate the current but in addition the way forward for society.”
The pontiff reiterated his condemnation of conflict as barbarous and sacrilegious. He mentioned that “humanity should perceive that the second has come to abolish conflict, to cancel conflict from the historical past of man earlier than it cancels man from historical past.”
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MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Russia’s Nationwide Guard on the sixth anniversary of its creation.
Putin specifically addressed the service workers of the Nationwide Guard items concerned within the army operation in Ukraine.
“Comrades, certainly, fight circumstances contain elevated danger. I'm nicely conscious of the way you act on this state of affairs: extremely courageously and professionally, skillfully and fearlessly. You resolve essentially the most difficult duties set earlier than you competently and exactly whereas exhibiting private heroism,” Putin mentioned in a video assertion issued Sunday.
The Nationwide Guard, which numbers over 300,000 personnel, was established by Putin in 2016 as an inside army power to combat terrorism and arranged crime, guard state services, management weapons turnover and to offer riot management.
The service reviews on to the president.
“Our total huge nation is rightly happy with every of you,” Putin mentioned. “I wish to thanks in your stamina and your impeccable service to Russia, in your loyalty to our fatherland, to your oath of allegiance and your obligation.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — A supervisor at a UNESCO world heritage web site in Kyiv says bombings within the capital are being felt within the landmark constructing and will threaten its foundations.
“We and the landmark really feel the vibrations,” mentioned Vadim Kyrylenko, an engineer who now's essentially the most senior on-site supervisor on the St. Sophia Cathedral. “It’s a minimal risk however we really feel it. If there can be a strike close by as I say it could be some extent of no return for our landmark as a result of it is rather fragile and weak.”
The positioning shut its doorways to guests as quickly because the conflict in Ukraine began final month. Kyrylenko mentioned that the one folks left on web site aside from him are a prepare dinner, a carpenter and engineers who're maintaining the principle capabilities working.
The Orthodox shrine dates again almost 1,000 years to the daybreak of Christianity within the area. It's thought of the center of Ukrainian non secular and nationwide id. The grand construction survived regardless of being within the crosshairs of quite a few invaders and armies.
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A separatist chief in japanese Ukraine says that his area desires to carry a vote on becoming a member of Russia.
Leonid Pasechnik, the top of the self-proclaimed Luhansk Folks’s Republic, mentioned Sunday that it may maintain a referendum “within the nearest time” asking voters whether or not they assist making the area a part of Russia.
Russia has supported the separatist rebels in Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk areas since an insurgency erupted there in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Moscow acknowledged their independence on Feb. 21 after which cited their name for army help to launch the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
In talks with Ukraine, Moscow has urged it to acknowledge Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. Pasechnik’s assertion may herald a shift within the Russian place.
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BERLIN — Germany’s president is internet hosting a “solidarity live performance” with Ukraine that includes musicians from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
The Berlin Philharmonic was enjoying items by Ukrainian, Russian and Polish composers at President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s Bellevue palace in Berlin. Steinmeier — who addressed the occasion by video as a result of he examined constructive for the coronavirus final week — described it Sunday as a “sign for freedom and peace.”
Steinmeier mentioned: “Allow us to be vigilant in opposition to sweeping animosities, and allow us to not succumb to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s pseudo-historical nationalist delusion. Allow us to not enable Putin’s hatred to turn out to be a hatred between folks … in our personal society both.”
Nonetheless, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany tweeted that he had spurned an invite. Andriy Melnyk wrote that “ONLY RUSSIAN (!) SOLOISTS” have been performing, “no Ukrainians.” He added: “An affront. Sorry, I’m staying away.”
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JERUSALEM — Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. is just not attempting to topple Russian President Vladimir Putin, regardless of its harsh condemnations of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken spoke a day after President Joe Biden mentioned of Putin throughout a speech in Warsaw: “For God’s sake, this man can't stay in energy.”
At a information convention in Jerusalem, Blinken mentioned Biden’s level was that “Putin can't be empowered to wage conflict or have interaction in aggression in opposition to Ukraine or anybody else.”
He mentioned the U.S. has repeatedly mentioned that “we should not have a method of regime change in Russia, or wherever else for that matter.”
“On this case, as in any case, it’s as much as the folks of the nation in query. It’s as much as the Russian folks,” Blinken mentioned.
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KYIV, Ukraine —- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once more urged the West to offer Ukraine with warplanes and air protection missiles.
Talking in a video handle early Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned that “our companions have all that, and it’s simply gathering mud. And in reality it’s essential not only for Ukraine’s freedom, however for the liberty of Europe.”
Zelenskyy warned that the Baltic states, Poland and Slovakia may ultimately face a Russian assault “simply because they may have saved of their hangars simply 1% of all NATO warplanes and 1% of all NATO tanks. Simply 1%! We aren’t asking for extra and we've got been ready for that for 31 days!”
He mentioned that “our companions should step up their help to Ukraine.”
The president mentioned: “Ukraine can’t shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns and machine weapons which have accounted for the majority of provides. And we are able to’t unblock Mariupol with out the required variety of tanks, different armor, and warplanes. All defenders of Ukraine find out about it.”
He added that the US and “all European politicians” additionally know that.