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Aug. 23 (UPI) — Potential security guarantees could end the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday.

Security measures after the war are in the works and will be ready soon after negotiating them with Ukraine’s U.S. and European partners, Zelensky said in a social media post.

“There is now a real chance to end this war, and Ukraine is ready for constructive steps that can bring true peace close,” Zelensky said on X.

“Russia is showing no intention of peace on its side and continues shelling our cities,” Zelensky continued.

“We interpret all signals coming from Moscow these days in the same way. Pressure is needed to change their position, as well as meeting at the highest level to discuss all issues.”

Zelensky announced the pending security guarantees after he had a phone conversation with Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

U.S., European and Ukrainian representatives ramped up discussions of security guarantees after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska last week, Politico reported.

The bilateral meeting produced no tangible results, but they did affirm Putin’s reluctance to end the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Trump on Monday said a meeting between Zelensky and Putin is being planned, but Putin has not agreed to do so.

Trump met with European leaders on Monday and said they are working to arrange a bilateral meeting between the presidents of the two warring nations.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued its aggression against Ukraine, including an overnight aerial attack early Thursday that struck a U.S.-owned plant in the western Ukrainian city of Mukachevo.

The American-owned Flex manufacturing plant produces electronic goods, such as coffee makers, in western Ukraine.

There were no reports of casualties, but the manufacturing plant was destroyed.

That Russian attack involved 574 drones, 33 cruise missiles and six ballistic missiles, Ukrainian defense officials reported.

Air defenses shot down 546 of the attacking drones, 30 cruise missiles and one ballistic missile.

I lived in this beautiful Spanish town, likened to Venice, for seven year – and Brits are missing out on this hidden gem in the Costa Brava

My best teenage years were spent in a beautiful town called Empuriabrava in southern Spain. Although I haven’t lived there as long as I’ve been in London, I still remember it with a lot of love – and if you ever have the chance, you should visit it. It’ll make the perfect holiday, and I’m here to tell you why.

Two hours away from Barcelona, a destination I also called my home for a while, lies Empuriabrava. It’s a little town with 8,000 residents but a lot to offer. Some call it the “Venice of Spain”, but it has a completely different vibe.

It can be found in the Costa Brava, and although there’s a lot of tranquillity during the colder months, the summer welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the peninsula and neighbouring countries. Shockingly, despite its small population, Empuriabrava welcomes an estimated 80,000 people during the peak season.

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Empuriabrava is a unique coastal town in Catalonia, known for its large residential marina system in Europe and the world with more than 25 miles of canals. Sailing around the town is the most popular activity, seeing the different houses. Plus, it’s a fun method of transport to get around.

Besides the waters surrounding the area with stunning homes, it’s also a popular destination for those seeking to take part in water sports and outdoor adventures. People can also relax by the beach, with bars and restaurants being easily accessible.

Empuriabrava also offers the chance to make your dreams come true by skydiving over the most beautiful views. Jumping on a plane at 4,000 metres above sea level, it’s the best way to see the town’s unique shape. There’s also a friendly indoor skydiving tunnel offering the same adrenaline.

Besides the fact that it’s one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Costa Brava – at least for me – it’s also one of the few towns where you can peacefully walk without big crowds. Yes, the perfect summer retreat for those seeking relaxation while enjoying the many amenities offered for locals and tourists alike.

READ MORE: I’m Spanish living in the UK and these key differences blow my mind

Due to Empuriabrava’s tiny size, visitors can practically see and do everything in one day. However, the Costa Brava is dotted with other hidden corners and towns that are worth visiting whilst there, including Castelló d’Empúries, Figueres, Roses, and Cadaqués. Each place offers a unique experience that you shouldn’t miss out on.

There are various ways to get to Empuriabrava, but the most convenient is taking the train. The nearest station (RENFE) is in Figueres, which is nine miles away from the town. From there, some buses will take you straight to Empuriabrava – and during the summer, they are more frequent.

The town is surrounded with a lot of history and a lot of my best memories. Despite living in London for more than a decade, there’s no other place I would recommend visiting if you’re seeking a different experience rather than the typical overcrowded city environment.

OK, which focus group asked for soap made from Sydney Sweeney’s dirty bathwater? Because y’all are in trouble.

In announcing the limited-edition Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss product Thursday, boutique soap company Dr. Squatch said on social media that it exists because “y’all wouldn’t stop asking” for Soap á la Sweeney after the actor did a viral ad for the company last October. “And Sydney said, ‘Let’s do it.’”

So whoever “y’all” is should have to stay up late writing apologies to the rest of us. In cursive.

The soap is said to smell like Sweeney’s childhood homeland, the Pacific Northwest, so anyone who has a warm and innocent association with that area’s pine, Douglas fir and earthy moss essence is likely to have that completely ruined. Of course, if you associate those scents with the parfum de décolleté et de parties féminines — that’s some kind of French for the “scent of cleavage and lady parts” — this soap should make perfect sense.

“Nice humiliation ritual you’ve got going here,” X user @AzBeto1997 tweeted Friday about the soap, which the company swears includes bathwater that has actually touched Sweeney’s naked body. “Way to demean and diminish your customer base. If it were a joke it’d be funny.”

“Weird and gross. I’ve enjoyed the pine tar soap for several years now, but this is goodbye. Enjoy your bath water fetishist customers,” user @MarvinOMars wrote.

“I guarantee you most straight men find the Sydney Sweeney soap thing pretty gross,” @UnderstanderArt said. “She’s not appealing to all straight men with it, but a very particular group that I want nothing to do with.”

Over on Instagram, comments about the limited run of 5,000 bars of soap, on sale next week, seemed more charitable. One poster said the Dr. Squatch marketing department and Sweeney “need an award for this. Hilarious and awesome.”

“We’re not going to heaven, but this is close enough,” another wrote.

“Never will I be in a greater state of absolute bliss than whilst I use this holy concoction, in the form of a bar of soap, to rub across my body,” wrote a third.

Some comments invoked the infamous bathtub scene from “Saltburn.” Many alluded to masturbation. A lot of them were seriously hilarious. All of them suggested in their own quiet ways that the fall of Western civilization was imminent.

“This bar is bizarre, unexpected, and intended to get guys to think more deeply about the ingredients in the products they are putting on their bodies,” said John Ludeke, the Dr. Squatch executive who heads the company’s global marketing department.

So buy the soap, don’t buy the soap, we really don’t care. Remember, this is the same company that insured Nick Cannon’s testicles for $10 million.

Irish Spring, here we come.

Bell Wharf Beach in Leigh-on-Sea is just a 10-minute walk from the train station and offers a much more tranquil experience compared to Southend’s bustling beaches

Hidden away on the Thames Estuary, nestled amongst cobbled streets and historic cockle sheds, Bell Wharf Beach is touted as ‘Essex’s best-kept secret’. This charming Leigh-on-Sea beach offers a more tranquil experience compared to the bustling sands of nearby Southend, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely summer walk.

Just a ten-minute stroll from Leigh’s train station, Old Leigh welcomes visitors with a sandy haven surrounded by delightful cafes, traditional pubs, and enticing shops. It’s a place where you can watch fishing boats bring in their catch, which is later served up fresh in the local restaurants.

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One establishment worth noting is Osborne Bros, tucked away in an old stable mews near the original cockle sheds. This family-run business has been serving freshly prepared seafood since the 1880s.

Directly across from Osborne Bros is the Crooked Billet, a cosy pub with history dating back to the late 16th century. Other attractions near the beach include The Mayflower, The Peterboat, and Sara’s Tea Garden, reports Essex Live.

Bell Wharf Beach is also just a short hop from the Two Tree Island Nature Reserve, a sanctuary where summer visitors might spot butterflies, voles, and kestrels flying overhead.

For those travelling by car, Victoria Wharf Car Park offers convenient paid parking right next to the beach. Leigh-on-Sea has scooped up more praise, this time from Muddy Stilettos, bagging the title of Essex’s best place to live.

They paint a picture of a town brimming with “Industrial-style coffee houses, boutique bars and a sandy shoreline lined by characterful cockle sheds.

“Leigh-on-Sea is Southend’s smaller, trendier sister and thanks to a steady stream of relocating Londoners over the years, it’s managed to blend its small-town-seaside charm with on-trend hospitality offerings.

“Yes, there’s even an artisan vegan-friendly gelato house and it doesn’t come much more ‘Shoreditch of Essex’ than that.”