Ukraine fighter pilot's wife's hopes and fears ahead of ceasefire deal

Maria, whose husband Ivan has been risking his life since the first day of the war, is cautiously hoping for a truce.

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Ivan, a 31-year-old Ukrainian fighter pilot, began defending the skies from the very first hours of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, and has now flown more than 200 perilous missions in his old Soviet-era Mig-29 warplane.

The squadron commander has lost several comrades in the war. Some were close friends. Others were godfathers to each other's children. The location of his current air base in western Ukraine cannot be revealed for security reasons.

But as US-led efforts to negotiate a ceasefire gather pace - and fresh talks with Russia and Ukraine planned on Monday - things have changed.

"If any ceasefire comes [about], we will feel safer," says Maria.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70wgq7y11qo

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