Alina Zagitova's nearly flawless free skate on Saturday not only won gold in her debut at the European Figure Skating Championships, but also snapped the two-year winning streak of training partner Evgenia Medvedeva.
Russia's Alina Zagitova shows her gold medal, center, as she poses with Russia's silver medallist Evgenia Medvedeva, left, and Italy's bronze medallist Carolina Kostner, right, after the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The 15-year-old Russian landed seven clear triples as well as two double axels, one of them dramatically late in the program, skating to lively music from the ballet "Don Quixote." The program scored 157.97 points, more than three points ahead of second-placed Medvedeva.
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Alina Zagitova's nearly flawless free skate on Saturday not only won gold in her debut at the European Figure Skating Championships, but also snapped the two-year winning streak of training partner Evgenia Medvedeva.
The 15-year-old Russian landed seven clear triples as well as two double axels, one of them dramatically late in the program, skating to lively music from the ballet "Don Quixote." The program scored 157.97 points, more than three points ahead of second-placed Medvedeva.
Russia's Alina Zagitova shows her gold medal after winning the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Zagitova augmented several of her jumps by raising one of two hands above her head, her elbow-length crimson gloves drawing attention to the move.
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs to win the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Medvedeva, who had won gold in every appearance since late 2015, landed some of her jumps with less assurance than her compatriot, though her "Anna Karenina" theme outpointed Zagitova on program components.
Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev perform in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Carolina Kostner of Italy, the Sochi Olympics bronze medalist, struggled through an error-filled free skate that included falling on her opening triple lutz, but took bronze on the back of her strong short program.
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won their fourth consecutive European figure skating championship, extending the two world records they already held.
Russia's Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin embrace after performing in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Gold medallist Alina Zagitova of Russia, right, is hugged by Italy's bronze medallist Carolina Kostner after the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Russia's Alina Zagitova shows her gold medal after winning the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Zagitova augmented several of her jumps by raising one of two hands above her head, her elbow-length crimson gloves drawing attention to the move.
"I'm happy I performed two clean skates. Of course I'm happy I became the European champion and I want to keep going," she said.
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs in the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Russia's Alina Zagitova performs to win the ladies free skating event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Medvedeva, who had won gold in every appearance since late 2015, landed some of her jumps with less assurance than her compatriot, though her "Anna Karenina" theme outpointed Zagitova on program components.
Medvedeva missed the Grand Prix Final and the Russian nationals this season to recover from a foot stress fracture, and said "there were some moments during the skate when the two-month break had an impact."
"I woke up this morning with the thought that I'll just do everything that's in my power at the moment. I'll live in the moment," she said.
Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev perform in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev perform in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Carolina Kostner of Italy, the Sochi Olympics bronze medalist, struggled through an error-filled free skate that included falling on her opening triple lutz, but took bronze on the back of her strong short program.
The 30-year-old Italian veteran wore a pistachio-green catsuit that she said was inspired by the renowned Russian ballet dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky.
"It was not at all my best performance and it's a pity because my body's ready and the practices were easy-going and mostly flawless and then you get into the competition and it just slips away," she said.
France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron pose with their gold medals after winning the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won their fourth consecutive European figure skating championship, extending the two world records they already held.
The French duo's free dance to sections from Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" reflected the music's mood changes. They were fluid in the first movement and animated in the stormy third. Papadakis and Cizeron scored a record 121.817 points for the free dance and 203.16 total.
"I think we're very happy with our scores and we had a great feeling on the ice today," Cizeron said. "(We'll) just keep working as usual and really just keep working with our team."
"The Olympic Games will come up very soon now and we're really excited."
Silver and bronze went to Russian couples Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev and Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin, respectively, reversing their positions from the results after the short dance.
Russia's Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin perform in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Russia's Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin embrace after performing in the pairs ice dance free dance event at the European figure skating championships in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Bobrova and Soloviev's free skate was a touching tale of love sought, found and lost, ending with him trying to embrace her but missing as she stares in apparent dismay. The program featured a straight-line lift in which he kneeled on one leg and she balanced upside down on the outstretched thigh
"Yes, we achieved a personal best, but we still want the mark to be higher," Bobrova said. He added: "Now it is important that we relax a bit and then on January 27th we will fly to Japan and wait for our invitation" to the Pyeongchang Olympics, where Russians are to compete under a neutral flag.
CAPRI, Italy (AP) — Top NATO and European Union officials urged foreign ministers from leading industrialized nations on Thursday to take quick, concrete steps to provide more air defense systems and artillery to Ukraine, warning that continued delays could tilt the war in Moscow’s favor.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell addressed a meeting of foreign ministers of G7 nations meeting on the Italian resort island of Capri. Russia’s war on Ukraine and surging tensions in the Middle East over Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend have topped the agenda of the gathering.
Without more Patriot air defense missile systems to protect against Russian strikes, “the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed. And no country can fight without having electricity at home, in the factories, in the front line,” Borrell told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Stoltenberg welcomed signs that the U.S. Congress might soon vote on a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, the bulk of which would go to purchasing weapons and ammunitions from U.S. defense manufacturers. And he welcomed other recent financial pledges from the Netherlands and Denmark as well as Germany's recent announced delivery of a new Patriot missile battery.
But he said more long-term and sustainable aid was necessary to better coordinate Ukraine's response over the long term.
“There is an urgent, critical need for more air defense,” Stoltenberg said, adding that artillery rounds were also needed. “We cannot continue to be in a situation where Russia is outgunning Ukraine, in the way they do now. The Russians are shooting and shooting, and the Ukrainians have limited resources to shoot back. So the Ukrainians need more, and that’s the urgent and important message from me to all allies.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani opened the first working session by calling for new sanctions against Iran for its weekend attack and concrete help for Ukraine. “If Ukraine loses, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will never sit at the peace table,” Tajani warned.
The Capri meeting of the top diplomats from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States dovetailed with other regional diplomatic efforts sending the same messages. On Wednesday, EU leaders meeting in Brussels vowed to ramp up sanctions on Iran to target its drone and missile deliveries to proxies in Gaza, Yemen and Lebanon.
The U.S. and Britain, meanwhile, announced Thursday they were imposing a new round of sanctions on Iran, with the U.S. targeting individuals and entities that produce engines that power drones and are involved in steel production. The latest British measures target several Iranian military organizations, individuals and entities involved in Iran’s drone and ballistic missile industries.
Borrell said the existing EU sanctions regime would be strengthened and expanded to punish Tehran and help prevent future attacks on Israel. At the same time, he said, Israel needed to exercise restraint.
“I don’t want to exaggerate but we are on the edge of a war, a regional war in the Middle East, which will be sending shockwaves to the rest of the world, and in particular to Europe,” he warned. “So stop it.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Iran must be isolated “because,of course, there must be a reaction to this unprecedented incident, but there must be no further escalation in the region,” German news agency dpa reported.
On Ukraine, its Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was invited to Capri as a guest, underlined his country’s need for essential military support, including artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems as Russia pushes along the front line.
He thanked Germany for providing Ukraine with a new Patriot battery, which was announced over the weekend, but urged the U.S. Congress to quickly approve the funding package.
“So we will work here at the ministerial level to make other allies deliver air defense systems to Ukraine. Because it’s of fundamental importance," Kuleba said.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday he supported a proposal from the House speaker, Mike Johnson, to provide about $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, signaling bipartisan support for the precarious funding bill.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he hoped the U.S. funding would come through but said other allies needed to step up.
“In this moment, it is urgent that all of the friends and supporters of Ukraine maximize their efforts to provide Ukraine with what it needs to continue to effectively defend itself against this Russian aggression,” Blinken said after meeting with Kuleba.
“If Putin is allowed to proceed with impunity, we know he won’t stop at Ukraine and we can safely predict that his aggression will continue,” Blinken said. “Other would-be aggressors around the world will take note and unleash their own aggressions. And we will have a world of conflict, not a world of peace and security.”
Borrell said Europe can't rely solely on Washington to help Ukraine defend itself.
“Concrete decisions have to be taken in order to send to Ukraine more air defense,” he said. “We do have Patriots, we have anti-missile systems. We have to take them from the our barracks where they are just in case, and to send to Ukraine where the war is raging. And I’m sure we will be doing that, but it has to be done quickly.”
Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin.
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa shake hands at a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
From left, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attend a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
From left, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron attend a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, attend a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, left, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani react during a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
From left, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attend a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
From left, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speak during a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reacts during a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock talks to reporters during the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting on Capri Island, Italy, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock talks to reporters during the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting on Capri Island, Italy, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, down left, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, top left, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, bottom, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, right, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, top right, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, top, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani meet on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock talks to reporters during the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting on Capri Island, Italy, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, left, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, top left, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, top, second from left, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, bottom left, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, bottom right, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, top right, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, right, meet on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on Capri island, Italy, Thursday April 18, 2024. (Remo Casilli/Pool via AP)
