At the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) in southwest China's Sichuan province, adorable fluffy panda cubs are living life to the fullest, as captured in the newly released iPanda videos.
A heartwarming video captured on Jan 6 at the Ya'an Base of the CCRCGP shows two adorable fluffy panda cubs, born in 2023 to mother panda Ran Ran, snuggled up together and engaging in playful antics. Adding to their charm is the fact that their mother, Ran Ran, is a part of the panda reintroduction program and had mated with a wild panda, making these cubs a unique and significant addition to the conservation efforts.
The previous day, an adorable giant panda cub was captured being spoiled at the CCRCGP's Dujiangyan Base, with the chubby cub seen laying on its back while enjoying a succession of snacks from its caretaker.
The footage shows the young panda in a blissful state of contentment as it lounges on the ground while holding a steamed bun in its left hand, a carrot in its right hand, and hooking a bamboo shoot with its foot.
The cub is one of a pair of twins born to a mother panda named Pan Wang, who was also released into the wild and mated with a wild panda.
The CCRCGP is a world-leading institution for the breeding and conservation of one of China's national treasures. The center has also established a global platform for promoting international cooperation and exchanges involving 18 zoos from 16 countries and regions, as well as 39 domestic animal breeding institutions and more than 10 scientific research institutes.
Adorable panda cubs thrive in Sichuan
The Russia-Ukraine peace talks are expected to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, as the Russian delegation has expressed readiness to participate, while the Ukrainian side has not yet issued a statement regarding the timing of the negotiations.
The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday to prepare for the negotiations. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation and senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, said on Thursday night that starting 10:00 on Friday, the Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian side, that should arrive for the meeting to begin the talks.
Medinsky said that his team has the necessary competencies to conduct negotiations and will focus on "finding possible solutions" and common ground through a constructive approach.
Speaking outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, Medinsky said that Russia views the fresh negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul as a "continuation" of the peace process disrupted in 2022, claiming that his team's objective is to secure a lasting peace by "addressing the underlying causes of the conflict."
Medinsky said he had met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday to present their position ahead of the talks.
Also on Thursday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to visit Istanbul in the near future.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a Ukrainian delegation would attend the peace talks in Istanbul, though he would not personally show up at the negotiating table.
Zelensky has concluded his visit to Türkiye and left for the Albanian capital.
The delegation will be led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, alongside professionals, including military and intelligence officers, Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is awaiting confirmation from both the U.S. government and the Russian side on the exact schedule for the talks, which are expected to take place either Thursday or Friday.
On top of that, Zelensky stressed that he is ready for discussions if an unconditional ceasefire will be discussed at the level of leaders.
Speaking to reporters separately after a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Türkiye's Antalya, Fidan said that both Russia and Ukraine have, in principle, expressed their willingness for a ceasefire. However, each has its own considerations: Ukraine favors an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, while Russia maintains that certain modalities must first be understood and agreed upon.
Fidan said the Ukraine-Russia negotiations have now reached a certain stage, urging both parties to make concessions and take steps towards establishing a common peace.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also attended the NATO meeting, said they support a negotiated settlement. "We will see what happens over the next couple of days in that regard, but we want to see progress," he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris is pushing for an "urgent" and "unconditional" ceasefire.
According to a TASS report, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto expressed the hope for the success of the upcoming talks on resolving the Ukrainian conflict, urging the European Union not to undermine the negotiations.
The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin.
The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.
Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid lingering differences
