Notes and Essays -- John Brown

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that rare three-way negotiations between Ukrainian, Russian and American teams in Abu Dhabi had been “constructive.” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Thursday in Switzerland. He said this week that he expected “at least some answers” from Russia on a draft of a peace plan. Credit... Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By  Andrew E. Kramer  and  Paul Sonne Andrew Kramer reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Paul Sonne from Berlin. The New York Times , Jan. 24, 2026 Updated  1:33 p.m. ET; see also an earlier article The first face-to-face talks among Russian, Ukrainian and American officials ended Saturday on a rare positive note from President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, hinting at progress in the slow process to end the war. “A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive,” Mr. Zelensky said in a post  on social media  about the talks, which were held ov...

Danylo Yavhusyshyn, known to his opponents as Aonishiki, left his homeland after the Russian invasion to pursue a childhood dream of reaching the top in Japan’s ancient  sport By Junko Fukutome and Jason Douglas, The Wall Street Journal , Jan. 24, 2026 8:00 am ET Aonishiki’s actual name is Danylo Yavhusyshyn— and he’s from Ukraine.   Naoki Nishimura/AFLO/Zuma Press Tokyo On the dohyo, the sacred mound of straw, sand, and clay where sumo wrestlers ply their trade, the most unlikely star in the sport goes by Aonishiki.  Though he has only practiced the ancient art of sumo professionally for two years, he already sits just one notch below the immortal rank of yokozuna. Just two more tournament victories could clinch him that title. But that is far from the most remarkable thing about Aonishiki.   The real surprise is that his actual name is Danylo Yavhusyshyn—and he’s from Ukraine. “I never expected to get this far this quickly,” he said in an interview, now speaking fl...