Ukrainian city on the black sea

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Ukraine Thursday as the most likely peacemaker in a war that has pitted NATO and the European Union firmly against Russia. Erdogan and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the western city of Lviv, with the nascent UN-Turkish-facilitated Black Sea grain export deal likely top of the agenda. The Turkish president may also be carrying a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin , who he met in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi earlier this month. Erdogan—now needed by both Ukraine and Russia—may yet play a key role in any eventual ceasefire, though for now an end to the fighting looks unlikely. In the meantime Erdogan—ambitious, opportunistic, and pragmatic—will deal with both sides, seeking to stabilize its region, its beleaguered economy, and grow its international influence. "Turkey is trying to find a middle road," said Fatih Ceylan, … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Erdogan jostles to be Putin’s partner, Ukraine peacemaker

Emergency drills have been carried out by Ukrainian workers wearing hazmat suits by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid fears of a disaster on Friday following a Russian “provocation” warning. People have been acting out scenes for a potential nuclear disaster in Zaporizhzhia with workers wearing protective outfits and showing how they would take care of victims. Images showed people being hosed down while others were seen being taken to medical tents on stretchers. If the nuclear power plant, which is in the hands of the Russians, did go into meltdown then a car park in the town of Zaporizhzhia nearby, which is held by Ukrainians, would be used as a rescue base. The drills followed warnings from the Russian defence ministry of a "minor accident" at the nuclear power plant on Friday which it said would be carried out by Ukraine with the apparent aim of trying to put the blame on Vladimir Putin's forces. There are fears that there could be a disaster at the … [Read more...] about Fears of horrifying nuclear power plant strike today as Ukrainians hold disaster drills

AFP Kyiv, Ukraine   ● Fri, August 19, 2022 2022-08-19 11:20 0 b2587592dd54281f57bdb7dba9144219 2 Europe Ukraine,Volodymir-Zelensky,Recep-Tayyip-Erdogan,nuclear-disaster,Ukraine-war,Russia Free Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Thursday of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine during his first face-to-face talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia's invasion began, echoing pleas from the UN's chief. A flare-up in fighting around Europe's largest nuclear facility in Russian-controlled southern Ukraine has sparked urgent warnings from world leaders, and UN chief Antonio Guterres cautioned during talks with Erdogan that any damage to the plant would be akin to "suicide". "We are worried. We don't want another Chernobyl," Erdogan said during a press conference in the eastern city of Lviv, during which he also assured the Ukrainian leader that Ankara was a firm ally. "While continuing our efforts to find a solution, we remain on the side of our … [Read more...] about Erdogan warns of ‘another Chernobyl’ after talks in Ukraine