International Peace Conference for Ukraine Commences in Switzerland Seeking a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, an international peace conference convened today in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives from over 40 countries, including Russia and Ukraine, have gathered in a collective effort to find a peaceful way forward. The conference, hosted by the Swiss government, aims to establish a dialogue between the warring parties and explore potential avenues for a negotiated settlement. It follows months of escalating military tensions and civilians suffering in the conflict zone. High-level representatives, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, are scheduled to address the conference. The agenda includes discussions on humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges, and a roadmap for a ceasefire. “This conference is a crucial opportunity to bring the parties together,” said Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. “We must seize this moment to push for dialogue and find a peaceful solution that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” The conference is being closely monitored by the international community, with hopes that it can lead to a breakthrough in the conflict. However, the challenges ahead remain significant, as both sides have expressed strong positions. “We are determined to find a compromise that is acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. “Our priority is to restore peace and stability to our country.” Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has emphasized that any settlement must take into account Russia’s security concerns. “We are prepared to negotiate, but we will not compromise on our national interests,” he said. Amidst the challenges, the international community remains hopeful that the conference will set the foundation for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The outcome of the talks could have significant implications for the security and stability of Europe and the world...
A mother who was left fighting for her life in hospital just weeks after giving birth has revealed the moment she thought she was going to die.
Elleyce Whiteley, from Wigan, had only recently welcomed her son Jax into the world when she developed a life-threatening condition – with doctors telling her family she might not pull through.
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The 27-year-old was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during her pregnancy and was put on insulin until Jax was born on January 10.
READ MORE: ‘She promised she would never leave me’ – daughter’s heartbreak after mother dies in train station tragedy
After the toddler was born, her sugars started to rise again.++She was later prescribed semaglutide, a diabetes drug that contains the same active ingredient as the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic.
The mother claims that the dose should be increased after four weeks, but due to miscommunication between doctors this never happened.+
She claims this led to her medication running out after a month, causing her blood sugar levels to rise to dangerously high levels.
++Jax was only a few weeks old when Elleyce became unwell(Image: Elleyce Whiteley)
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As her condition continued to worsen, Elleyce began experiencing illness, nausea and stomach pain.++She also had to go to the toilet more often, she could not see well, she felt confused and was very thirsty.
The mother claims she was switched between doctors for about six weeks because her blood sugar levels kept spiraling out of control.
But she claims that by the time she got an appointment and was put back on her medication, it was too late: Her blood had become acidic, a terrifying and life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
Elleyce, who works at the Armed Forces Hub in Wigan, initially thought she was suffering from post-natal depression due to her exhaustion.
Just weeks later, she was left fighting for her life in hospital.++“It was quite a surreal experience,” she says.++“My whole body just started feeling like it wasn’t mine.”+
Just before she was rushed to the hospital, Elleyce’s mother Laura offered to take care of Jax so she could rest.++The couple thought she was probably sleep deprived as a new mother.+
But within just five minutes of her mother leaving, Elleyce began gasping for breath as she struggled to keep food or water down.+
++Elleyce almost lost her life(Image: Elleyce Whiteley)
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An ambulance was called and the mother was rushed to the hospital, where doctors began to resuscitate her.+
“I don’t remember going to the hospital or the journey there,” the mother added.++“I just remember being wheeled into the ambulance.++When I heard my mother crying, I didn’t know how bad it was, but I didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was.”+
As doctors fought to save Elleyce’s life, they told her devastated family to prepare for the worst.
There were fears that she would have to be put into an induced coma, but fortunately she began to respond to treatment.+
As she began to recover, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and started taking insulin again.+
She spent six days in hospital before returning home to recover – but in a terrifying turn of events, her sight did not return for two weeks.+
“I thought it was postpartum depression because I was physically and mentally exhausted,” she said.+
++Elleyce and baby Jax(Image: Elleyce Whiteley)
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“I didn’t know I was that bad, I thought I was just severely sleep deprived which was making me bad.+
“My son was also about to have cleft lip and palate surgery – which he had last week – so I thought the combination of it all was making me feel bad and I was just so emotional and crying all the time.++Since I got better, all signs of depression have disappeared.”+
Elleyce is now on the road to recovery and continues to take insulin while seeking advice from a dietitian.+
Now looking to the future, the mum wants to raise awareness of diabetes among young people and raise money for the Diabetes UK charity through the Million Step Challenge.+
“When I first came home, I randomly cried the next week after it dawned on me that I was literally on the verge of death,” she said.+
“I only had an hour when I was resuscitating to respond to the treatment, otherwise they would put me in a coma.+
“It made me think about the fact that I could have died and left my son without a safety net, so I’m going to get life insurance soon to make sure that doesn’t happen.+
“It’s so strange because it’s surreal.++You never think something like this could happen to you, and when it does, it just puts everything into perspective.+
“I am so lucky that I received amazing care while I was in the hospital and that I have the most amazing support network to care for my son when I couldn’t.”+
To donate to Elleyce’Ukrainian and international officials gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for a peace conference aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The conference was co-hosted by the Swiss government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). High-level representatives from Ukraine and Russia were present, along with representatives from the United States, the European Union, and other countries. The conference focused on addressing humanitarian issues such as the exchange of prisoners of war, the protection of civilians, and access to essential services in conflict-affected areas. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the fighting and appealed to both sides to negotiate a solution in good faith. He emphasized that there can be no military victory for either side and that diplomacy is the only way to achieve lasting peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the conference via video link from Kyiv, reiterating his commitment to finding a diplomatic solution. He called on the international community to increase pressure on Russia to end its aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also addressed the conference, presenting Russia’s perspective on the conflict. He stated that Russia remains open to dialogue but accused Ukraine of obstructing peace efforts. Despite the complexity of the issues and the deep divisions between the parties, the conference provided an important platform for dialogue and the exchange of views. It is hoped that the discussions will contribute to building consensus on the humanitarian aspects of the conflict and pave the way for a more comprehensive political settlement.
