As tensions ramp up at the Russia Ukraine border, western leaders continue to pursue a two-pronged approach to de-escalate- one is to increase military assistance to Ukraine and the second is to continue full diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis. In the latest Ukraine has urged Moscow to pull back its troops from Ukraine's border and continue talking to the west if it is serious about resolving the situation.

Ukraine: Kyiv calls on Russia to pull back troops

The French President Emmanuel Macron has been leading diplomatic talks, speaking to both Moscow and Kyiv, while other Western nations fine tune their strategy.

What does French President Macron want from Ukraine crisis?

'Diplomacy is the responsible way,' Kyiv urges Russia to pull back troops from Ukrainian border

Is Russia engineering a change of guard in Kyiv? The United Kingdom has claimed the Kremlin is looking to install a pro-Russian leader as Ukraine's President. Is Moscow planning to strike the Ukrainian Government from within? Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Ukraine Crisis: Kremlin planning regime change in Kiev?

The fear of military action in Ukraine has changed the atmosphere even in its schools. Law enforcers organised the training after a series of hoax bomb alerts this year forced the evacuation of schools in the capital Kyiv.

Students in Kyiv attend emergency drills at school amid Russia tension

Despite the rising tensions with Russia, Kyiv residents remain peaceful as Cafes and shops continue with daily footfall.

Ukraine: Kyiv residents remain peaceful even as tensions with Russia soar

The United States has ordered the departure of family members of staff at its Ukrainian embassy in Kyiv due to the continued threat of Russian military action.

US orders departure of Ukraine embassy staff and Kin over Russian threat

The tensions between Ukraine and Russia are simmering. Ukrainian government has fallen prey to malware cyber attack, Microsoft has confirmed that dozens of Kyiv government agencies have been left inaccessible, this as the hackers warned Ukrainians to be afraid and expect the worst hit.

Ukraine: Kyiv government launches probe into malicious cyber attack, blames Russia

According to American media reports, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine amid heightened tensions with Russia over a military buildup in the region. A Russian troop buildup in recent weeks near Ukraine's border and in occupied Crimea has raised concerns of an escalation of the conflict in Kyiv and in the West.

Reports: US top diplomat Antony Blinken to visit Ukraine next week

A Ukrainian social entrepreneur has turned a waste recycling vending machine into an animal-friendly initiative where plastic bottles serve as currency to buy food for stray cats and dogs.

Machine with a heart: Recycle plastic and feed stray animals in one go

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that it was a matter of Ukraine's national security to stay out of US internal politics, particularly its election.</p>

<p>"#Ukraine did not and will not allow itself to interfere in the elections and thus harm our trusting and sincere partnership with the #USA," he wrote on Twitter late on Saturday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Never, under any circumstances it's acceptable to meddle in another country's sovereign elections. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> did not and will not allow itself to interfere in the elections and thus harm our trusting and sincere partnership with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a></p>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1292177872317304834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Zelenskiy, 42, was a comic actor when he won a landslide election last year. But the first year of his presidency was overshadowed by Ukraine's unwitting involvement in events that led to the impeachment of Republican US President Donald Trump. Trump had unsuccessfully pressed Ukraine to launch an investigation into his Democratic rival in the 2020 presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden.</p>

<p>"Never, under any circumstances, it`s acceptable to meddle in another country's sovereign elections," Zelenskiy wrote.</p>

<p>Zelenskiy appealed to Ukrainian politicians to avoid any actions that could be linked to US&nbsp;elections, nor allow themselves to try to solve any of their personal, political or business problems that way.</p>

<p>"Ukraine's reputation is worth much more than the reputation of any of our politicians," the president said.</p>

<p>Earlier this week, Zelenskiy told Reuters that he hoped U.S. support for Ukraine would remain strong regardless of who wins the American election.</p>


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that it was a matter of Ukraine's national security to stay out of US internal politics, particularly its election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that it was a matter of Ukraine's national security to stay out of US internal politics, particularly its election. "#Ukraine did not and will not allow itself to interfere in the elections and thus harm our trusting and sincere partnership with the #USA," he wrote on Twitter late on Saturday. Never, under any circumstances it's acceptable to meddle in another country's sovereign elections. #Ukraine did not and will not allow itself to interfere in the elections and thus harm our trusting and sincere partnership with the #USA — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 8, 2020 × Zelenskiy, 42, was a comic actor when he won a landslide election last year. But the first year of his presidency was overshadowed by Ukraine's unwitting involvement in events that led to the impeachment of Republican US President Donald Trump. Trump had unsuccessfully pressed Ukraine to launch an investigation into his Democratic rival in the 2020 presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden. "Never, under any circumstances, it`s acceptable to meddle in another country's sovereign elections," Zelenskiy wrote. Zelenskiy appealed to Ukrainian politicians to avoid any actions that could be linked to US elections, nor allow themselves to try to solve any of their personal, political or business problems that way. "Ukraine's reputation is worth much more than the reputation of any of our politicians," the president said. Earlier this week, Zelenskiy told Reuters that he hoped U.S. support for Ukraine would remain strong regardless of who wins the American election.

Ukraine president says Kyiv staying out of US internal politics, elections

<p>Great players thrill us and enthrall us. They do so with their skills, talents and, at times, audacity. The best, however, do a little more. They remind us, even in finals, that football ultimately remains a game, to be played and to be enjoyed, to be watched and to be admired. With a delightful bicycle kick, Gareth Bale lit up the European Cup final.</p>

<p>The final had promised attacking intent, slack defending, and goals, plenty of goals. This was to be a romantic, high-octane, old-fashioned showpiece match. This was going to be Cristiano Ronaldo, the sculpted super athlete, versus Mohamed Salah, a talismanic next-better. They were to be protagonists in a grand-scale gala night in the Ukrainian capital, but, alas, Sergio Ramos and his dark arts curtailed Salah’s final, and Cristiano Ronaldo, for once, was truly peripheral in the plenitude of the word: he didn’t score.</p>

<p>So, it was left to Gareth Bale to enchant. The Welshman proved to be a super sub for Real Madrid, replacing Isco. He scored the goal that won Madrid a third consecutive European Cup in superlative style. For a moment, the rippling of the net filled the stadium with silence, then there was applause. In celebration, Bale threw himself, sliding face-down, to the ground, but he seemed among the few to have realised what had just happened.</p>

<p>Liverpool’s end was stunned. The entire stadium was stunned. On the touchline, even Zinedine Zidane was in disbelief. Bale had just scored a goal that bears watching again, and again. He took flight and in the Kiev sky he conjured up a marvellous bicycle kick, a gracious demonstration of split-second improvisation, excellent timing and superb athleticism. This time Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose final was a horror show, had no chance.</p>

<p>The goal was not only splendid, but almost with the cockiness that emanates from this all-conquering Real Madrid team. Zidane applauded Bale’s strike. Ronaldo seemed nonplussed. He had scored an astounding overhead kick of his own in the quarter-finals against Juventus. And so the French coach, remembering his sumptuous volley against Bayer Leverkussen in the 2002 Champions League final, and the Portuguese superstar might well have had a word with the Welsh winger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The final match had promised attacking intent, slack defending, and goals, plenty of goals

Great players thrill us and enthrall us. They do so with their skills, talents and, at times, audacity. The best, however, do a little more. They remind us, even in finals, that football ultimately remains a game, to be played and to be enjoyed, to be watched and to be admired. With a delightful bicycle kick, Gareth Bale lit up the European Cup final. The final had promised attacking intent, slack defending, and goals, plenty of goals. This was to be a romantic, high-octane, old-fashioned showpiece match. This was going to be Cristiano Ronaldo, the sculpted super athlete, versus Mohamed Salah, a talismanic next-better. They were to be protagonists in a grand-scale gala night in the Ukrainian capital, but, alas, Sergio Ramos and his dark arts curtailed Salah’s final, and Cristiano Ronaldo, for once, was truly peripheral in the plenitude of the word: he didn’t score. So, it was left to Gareth Bale to enchant. The Welshman proved to be a super sub for Real Madrid, replacing Isco. He scored the goal that won Madrid a third consecutive European Cup in superlative style. For a moment, the rippling of the net filled the stadium with silence, then there was applause. In celebration, Bale threw himself, sliding face-down, to the ground, but he seemed among the few to have realised what had just happened. Liverpool’s end was stunned. The entire stadium was stunned. On the touchline, even Zinedine Zidane was in disbelief. Bale had just scored a goal that bears watching again, and again. He took flight and in the Kiev sky he conjured up a marvellous bicycle kick, a gracious demonstration of split-second improvisation, excellent timing and superb athleticism. This time Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose final was a horror show, had no chance. The goal was not only splendid, but almost with the cockiness that emanates from this all-conquering Real Madrid team. Zidane applauded Bale’s strike. Ronaldo seemed nonplussed. He had scored an astounding overhead kick of his own in the quarter-finals against Juventus. And so the French coach, remembering his sumptuous volley against Bayer Leverkussen in the 2002 Champions League final, and the Portuguese superstar might well have had a word with the Welsh winger.

Sensational Gareth Bale and two goalkeeping bloopers hand Real Madrid Champions League title

<p>As Liverpool takes on Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Kiev later today, all eyes are on none other than Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has been unstoppable since he arrived at Liverpool from Roma last summer for $49 million, a bargain considering transfer market after Brazilian Neymar Jr's $263 million over-rated move to Paris Saint-Germain. Salah's performance has been awe-inspiring and he has proved every pundit, who expressed doubts over his ability to adapt the high-pressing style of Jurgen Klopp's football, wrong.</p>

<p>The Egyptian has scored 44 goals in 48 appearances this season for Liverpool- a record that does not look out of place next to the elite attacking players in the game like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.</p>

<p>And there have been calls already for him to be the next winner of the most prestigious individual accolade in world football -- Ballon d'Or.</p>

<p>Red's talisman broke the back of his former club Roma, his former club, in the semi-final first leg scoring two goals and provided assists for Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, in the process setting up the summit clash with the 12-time winner Real Madrid.</p>

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<h5>The dribbling, dancing and grooving Salah helped send Liverpool to the Champions League final but things could have been so different if Chelsea hadn't sold him</h5>
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<p>The dribbling, dancing and grooving Salah helped send Liverpool to the Champions League final but things could have been so different if Chelsea hadn't sold him.</p>

<p>The Egyptian was on the books at the Blues, but his time was short-lived as he was shipped out on loan to Fiorentina and then eventually sold to Roma after a loan deal with the club.</p>

<p>Chelsea's loss is Liverpool's gain. Mohamed Salah has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award for 2017-18. Salah has also won the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award among many others after a stunning debut season with Liverpool. The Egyptian winger has become the first African to ever win the prize.</p>

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<h5>Mo Salah has rapidly reached demigod level in Egypt because of his performances at Liverpool</h5>
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<p>The Egyptian king's success in England is a source of immense pride to those back home. He has rapidly reached demigod level in Egypt because of his performances at Liverpool.&nbsp;In fact, according to reports, such is the adulation being heaped upon Salah that it earned him hundreds and thousands of write-in votes in March's presidential election.</p>

<p>His status quickly rose beyond the boundaries of sport, cementing him as a symbol of Egyptian potential and hope even amid a gloomy period for the country, with a troubled economy and few outlets for free expression.</p>

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<h5>Mohamed Salah deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d'Or</h5>
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<p>Dejan Lovren, Salah's Liverpool teammate, recently in an interview showered encomiums on him. Lovren said that when people talk about Ronaldo and Messi they should also talk about Salah. He deserves it, he deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d'Or, he said and added at the start of the season he didn’t know he could do this, but you see how he is working, how he wants the ball, he is just a different player to what he was.</p>

<p>Having said that, there is no denying that Salah calls for mention when people talk about contemporary greats like Messi and Ronaldo. But the question is whether the Egyptian will be able to do it consistently over several seasons as Messi and Ronaldo have been able to do?</p>

<p>If the Egyptian's performance this season at the Merseyside is anything to go by, the answer to the question yes, he can.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


The Egyptian has scored 44 goals in 48 appearances this season for Liverpool- a record that does not look out of place next to the elite attacking players in the game like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar

As Liverpool takes on Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Kiev later today, all eyes are on none other than Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has been unstoppable since he arrived at Liverpool from Roma last summer for $49 million, a bargain considering transfer market after Brazilian Neymar Jr's $263 million over-rated move to Paris Saint-Germain. Salah's performance has been awe-inspiring and he has proved every pundit, who expressed doubts over his ability to adapt the high-pressing style of Jurgen Klopp's football, wrong. The Egyptian has scored 44 goals in 48 appearances this season for Liverpool- a record that does not look out of place next to the elite attacking players in the game like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. And there have been calls already for him to be the next winner of the most prestigious individual accolade in world football -- Ballon d'Or. Red's talisman broke the back of his former club Roma, his former club, in the semi-final first leg scoring two goals and provided assists for Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, in the process setting up the summit clash with the 12-time winner Real Madrid. The dribbling, dancing and grooving Salah helped send Liverpool to the Champions League final but things could have been so different if Chelsea hadn't sold him × The dribbling, dancing and grooving Salah helped send Liverpool to the Champions League final but things could have been so different if Chelsea hadn't sold him. The Egyptian was on the books at the Blues, but his time was short-lived as he was shipped out on loan to Fiorentina and then eventually sold to Roma after a loan deal with the club. Chelsea's loss is Liverpool's gain. Mohamed Salah has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award for 2017-18. Salah has also won the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award among many others after a stunning debut season with Liverpool. The Egyptian winger has become the first African to ever win the prize. Mo Salah has rapidly reached demigod level in Egypt because of his performances at Liverpool × The Egyptian king's success in England is a source of immense pride to those back home. He has rapidly reached demigod level in Egypt because of his performances at Liverpool. In fact, according to reports, such is the adulation being heaped upon Salah that it earned him hundreds and thousands of write-in votes in March's presidential election. His status quickly rose beyond the boundaries of sport, cementing him as a symbol of Egyptian potential and hope even amid a gloomy period for the country, with a troubled economy and few outlets for free expression. Mohamed Salah deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d'Or × Dejan Lovren, Salah's Liverpool teammate, recently in an interview showered encomiums on him. Lovren said that when people talk about Ronaldo and Messi they should also talk about Salah. He deserves it, he deserves to be mentioned for the Ballon d'Or, he said and added at the start of the season he didn’t know he could do this, but you see how he is working, how he wants the ball, he is just a different player to what he was. Having said that, there is no denying that Salah calls for mention when people talk about contemporary greats like Messi and Ronaldo. But the question is whether the Egyptian will be able to do it consistently over several seasons as Messi and Ronaldo have been able to do? If the Egyptian's performance this season at the Merseyside is anything to go by, the answer to the question yes, he can. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Mohamed Salah - The Egyptian King who rules Liverpool

<p>Liverpool's Mohamed Salah admitted it would be "a dream" to cap a sensational debut season at Anfield by ending Real Madrid's European reign in Saturday's Champions League final.</p>

<p>However, Salah says he would be happy if Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane grabs the goal that takes the Reds to a sixth European crown.</p>

<p>Salah has won a series of individual prizes as he has contributed 44 of the 90 goals Liverpool's front three have scored this season.</p>

<p>But the goals have been far more evenly spread in the Champions League.</p>

<p>"It doesn't matter who scores," Salah told UEFA.com.</p>

<p>"Winning games, getting points, that's the most important thing for us because as you can see, I've scored ten goals in the Champions League, Sadio nine, Firmino ten, so all of us are the same.</p>

<p>"None of us is selfish or only wants to score. We try to help each other to score goals."</p>

<p>The Egyptian, who had a disappointing spell at Chelsea, has been a revelation since his return to England last summer from Roma.</p>

<p>His form has led to Saturday's clash in Kiev being billed as a Ballon d'Or decider against five-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.</p>

<p>And he stressed the importance of maintaining that form for a number of years to match Ronaldo or Barcelona's Lionel Messi.&nbsp</p>

<p>"The most important thing is to maintain that level, to (keep) doing what I've done next season as well," he said.</p>

<p>"I believed (that I was capable of this form). I was at Roma for two years, had two great seasons there and everyone told me to stay, but it was in my mind to come and be successful in England."</p>

<p>The contrast in experience will be stark in the Ukrainian capital as Madrid seek a fourth Champions League in five seasons.</p>

<p>By contrast, despite Liverpool's storied history in the competition, none of Jurgen Klopp's squad have ever played in a Champions League final.</p>

<p>"They've won the Champions League three times in the past four years, so they have a lot of experience," Salah said.</p>

<p>But he said the single-game format improves Liverpool's chances.</p>

<p>"It's one game, not two, so we just need to focus and not think about anything in the past. When you get to the game it's just 11 against 11."</p>


Liverpool's Mohamed Salah admitted it would be "a dream" to cap a sensational debut season at Anfield by ending Real Madrid's European reign

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah admitted it would be "a dream" to cap a sensational debut season at Anfield by ending Real Madrid's European reign in Saturday's Champions League final. However, Salah says he would be happy if Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane grabs the goal that takes the Reds to a sixth European crown. Salah has won a series of individual prizes as he has contributed 44 of the 90 goals Liverpool's front three have scored this season. But the goals have been far more evenly spread in the Champions League. "It doesn't matter who scores," Salah told UEFA.com. "Winning games, getting points, that's the most important thing for us because as you can see, I've scored ten goals in the Champions League, Sadio nine, Firmino ten, so all of us are the same. "None of us is selfish or only wants to score. We try to help each other to score goals." The Egyptian, who had a disappointing spell at Chelsea, has been a revelation since his return to England last summer from Roma. His form has led to Saturday's clash in Kiev being billed as a Ballon d'Or decider against five-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo. And he stressed the importance of maintaining that form for a number of years to match Ronaldo or Barcelona's Lionel Messi. "The most important thing is to maintain that level, to (keep) doing what I've done next season as well," he said. "I believed (that I was capable of this form). I was at Roma for two years, had two great seasons there and everyone told me to stay, but it was in my mind to come and be successful in England." The contrast in experience will be stark in the Ukrainian capital as Madrid seek a fourth Champions League in five seasons. By contrast, despite Liverpool's storied history in the competition, none of Jurgen Klopp's squad have ever played in a Champions League final. "They've won the Champions League three times in the past four years, so they have a lot of experience," Salah said. But he said the single-game format improves Liverpool's chances. "It's one game, not two, so we just need to focus and not think about anything in the past. When you get to the game it's just 11 against 11."

It doesn't matter who scores, winning is important - Mohamed Salah

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