tour bus seville

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City Sightseeing Seville Iconic Ticket: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus

Activity schedule, key highlights.

• Inclusions & Exclusions

Palacio Bucarelli: Daily except Sunday

Hop-on, hop-off timings: 10am to 8pm, 30-40 min

Guided walking tours & other attractions:

Plaza Espana:12pm 

Santa Cruz:1:30pm 

Seville Imperial: 4pm

Triana: 5:30pm

Palacio Bucarelli: 10am -1:15pm

Board the bus at any of the designated stops. Plaza Espana: Stop 2 (Plaza de Espana)

Santa Cruz: Stop 1 (Paseo de Colon) 

Seville Imperial: 1 (Paseo de Colon) 

Triana: Stop 1 (Paseo de Colon) 

Hop off at any of the stops

• Explore Seville at your own pace over 24 hours, on a fun and flexible hop-on, hop-off tour
• Soak up the stunning mix of Mudéjar and Baroque architecture, intimate flamenco clubs and more
• Hop on and off as much as you wish to easily visit your favourite attractions
• Free walking tours, entry to attractions and exciting deals around the ctiy
• Enjoy riveting audio commentary in multiple languages
• Use any day within 12 months
• Both printed or smartphone vouchers accepted!

Set out on a tour of Seville, the capital city of Andalucia, and visit its popular sightseeing landmarks with this comprehensive and super-value Hop-on, Hop-off Bus from City Sightseeing. Valid for 24 hours, you can comfortably discover this Spanish beauty at your own pace. 

 Seville is overflowing with vintage charms - from bustling tapas bars to electrically intimate flamenco clubs and Mudéjar palaces. Hop on and off the bus as many times as you wish to easily visit your favorite attractions, thanks to a well-designed route, including Monasterio de la Cartuja and La Giralda.  Hop on and off at an array of well-placed stops to visit attractions of your choice and enjoy interesting audio commentary in multiple languages. 

Some of the main stops are:

• Paseo de Colón
• Plaza de España
• Plaza de América
• Triana: San Jacinto
• Torre de los Perdigones

The ticket also includes:

• Two guided walking tours
• Entrance to various attractions including the Pabellón de la Navegación

The complete list of inclusions and discounts is available in the USEFUL DOWNLOADS section.

• City Sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off, 24 hours
• Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Arabic, Greek, Catalan, Kids Commentary
• Guided walking tours
• Free admission to multiple attractions (refer Useful Downloads section)
• Entrances to attractions, unless specified

Useful downloads

• Important Information

Please note

Voucher information: You can show your voucher on your smartphone (But if you’d rather print a copy – that’s fine too!)

Validity: 12 months from the date chosen at the time of booking

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

Seville is a functioning city and weather, traffic, and events may occasionally cause disruption.

Capacity per walking tour: 19 pax (max. 2 groups). Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the activity.

Timings and stops are subject to change. The updated route map will be available on the bus.

Please check the current opening hours for these attractions on their websites.

Please check the Important Information doc in the Useful Downloads section for detailed information about the packages.

Customer Reviews

Delta heath-simpson.

The only issue was the English translation didn't appear to be working after the first few minutes.

Lynda Clements

Brilliant, lovely way to see all the sights

Kristina Rogers

Great way to see all the attractions and get to know the city. Would absolutely use again.

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💃 Visit Seville

• Things to do

Seville Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

• Posted by Marta Seville

Last updated on July 30th, 2023

📷 Ride on the tourist bus of Seville

When visiting the enchanting city of Seville, there’s no better way to explore its many treasures than with a Hop-On Hop-Off tour. Seville’s Hop-On Hop-Off buses offer a convenient and flexible way to discover the city’s rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods, all at your own pace.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this sightseeing adventure promises an unforgettable experience that showcases the best of Seville.

The Hop-On Hop-Off tour in Seville offers a delightful and flexible way to discover the city’s captivating beauty.

The Hop-On Hop-Off concept has revolutionized city sightseeing, and Seville is no exception. These tourist buses operate on designated routes that cover all major points of interest. Passengers can board the bus at any of the designated stops and disembark at their preferred attractions. The best part? With the freedom to hop on and off as many times as you wish within the ticket’s validity period, you have complete control over your itinerary.

Discovering Seville’s Highlights:

Seville is a city steeped in history and culture, and the Hop-On Hop-Off tour ensures you don’t miss any of its highlights. Some of the must-visit attractions along the route include:

• Seville Cathedral and La Giralda: Marvel at the awe-inspiring Gothic architecture of the Seville Cathedral, the largest in the world, and climb La Giralda tower for breathtaking views of the city.
• Real Alcázar of Seville: Explore the stunning Alcázar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its intricate Islamic and Mudejar design, lush gardens, and historical significance.
• Plaza de España: Admire the grandeur of Plaza de España, an iconic square with decorative bridges, stunning ceramics, and a canal representing Spain’s provinces.
• Triana: Hop off in the vibrant neighborhood of Triana, known for its lively atmosphere, traditional ceramic workshops, and riverside charm.
• Metropol Parasol (Las Setas): Experience modern architecture at its finest with a visit to the Metropol Parasol, also known as Las Setas, offering panoramic views from its impressive wooden structure.

Best stops: 1. Paseo de Colón (in front of the Plaza de Toros Real Maestranza) 2. Plaza de España 3. Aquarium of Seville 4. Plaza de América 5. Plaza de Cuba 6. San Jacinto/Triana 7. Calle Castilla/Triana 8. Universal Expo 92 9. Isla Mágica Theme Park 10. Macarena 11. Tower of the Pellets 12. Alameda de Hércules 13. Plaza del Duque 14. Main Square.

Onboard Audio Guide:

The Hop-On Hop-Off buses come equipped with multilingual audio guides, providing informative commentary about Seville’s history, culture, and landmarks as you travel through the city. Learn fascinating facts and anecdotes, adding depth to your sightseeing experience.

Flexibility and Convenience:

The Hop-On Hop-Off tour in Seville offers the utmost convenience for travelers of all ages. You can tailor your itinerary to match your interests and energy levels. Whether you wish to spend ample time at a particular attraction or simply soak in the atmosphere from the comfort of the bus, the choice is yours.

Practical Information:

Tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off tour can be purchased for 24 or 48 hours, giving you ample time to explore Seville’s marvels. The buses run at regular intervals, and you can easily find the stops throughout the city, making it hassle-free to hop on or off whenever you desire.

• What to visit

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• Posted by by Marta Seville
• 6 November 2023
• 7 minute read

• Practical guide

Educational guided school tours in Seville

• Posted by by Ignacio
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Plan for a weekend in Seville, 2024 version

• 5 July 2022
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• +34(0)954 56 06 93 638 15 90 65
• 10% DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE PURCHASE

BEST GUARANTEED PRICE     —     AUDIO IN 9 LANGUAGES     —     REDUCED MOBILITY FRIENDLY BUSES     —     FREE WIFI     —     AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING

Departures from 9.30 h to 21:20h.

1 ticket valid for 2 days in a row

1.10 hr routes Every 30 minutes

CANCELLATION

Free cancellation 24 hours before the reservation

10% discount for online purchase

Just one ticket (valid for 2 days in a row) offers you the chance to enjoy Seville, hopping on and off the bus as often as you like. 

Our Experience

Take our Seville tour bus to see the city in this inimitable way. Enjoy the city’s most emblematic buildings from a height, discovering the thousand-year history behind the Muralla de la Macarena , while taking in the Torre del Oro head on from our sun-filled open-top bus under the blue Sevillian sky. 

A single €25 ticket offers you the chance to enjoy our different tours over two days: Monumental, Romantic Seville by Night and the walking tour of the Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood. 

Relish the comfort of our double-decker buses with heating and air conditioning, duly adapted to accommodate people with reduced mobility, and which offer audio in 9 languages. You can also share your experience online by using our free WiFi service. 

Want even more? Get your ticket from our website and receive a 10% discount. Hop on and off the bus as often as you like over two days. 

We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Discover Seville

Archivo de Indias

Catedral y Giralda

Exposición Iberoamericana 1929

Practical information.

Departures from 9.30 a.m. to 22.00 p.m.

10% online discount

WHAT YOU GET

2 bus tours + 2 walking tours each day (Santa Cruz and Triana neighbourhoods)

Departures from 9.30 a.m. to 8.10 p.m.

• 10% ONLINE DISCOUNT

Rates and prices

• Children (aged 5-12)
• Discount rate for groups

TOUR MONUMENTAL

Discover the emblematic city sights.

TOUR ROMÁNTICO / ILUMINADO

Our bus tour is one of the best places from which to take in sunset in Seville.

TICKET SALES AND INFORMATION

You can also buy tickets at stands in the following locations: Torre del Oro , Plaza de España and Plaza del Duque , or getting on the bus itself . They can also be bought at Alsa ticket offices in Plaza de Armas bus station and associated establishments.

You can also buy tickets at stands in the following locations: Torre del Oro , Plaza de España and Plaza del Duque , or getting on the bus itself. They can also be bought at Alsa ticket offices in Plaza de Armas bus station and associated establishments.

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Seville City Tour

Enjoy every corner of Seville with total ease

Buy your ticket and visit the city’s must-see tourist spots.

What does each ticket include?

• 2-DAY TICKET
• Tour on "La Sevilla Monumental” sightseeing bus
• Tour on "La Sevilla Romántica Iluminada” sightseeing bus

2 WALKING TOURS

• Walking tour of the Triana district
• Walking tour of the Santa Cruz district
• Adults: €25
• Children (5-12 years of age): €13
• Children up to 5 years of age: free

Where can I buy the ticket?

• busturistico.com   (€5 discount with code ALSA5)
• Torre del Oro ticket offices
• Plaza de España
• Plaza del Duque
• Directly on the bus

With Seville City Tour you’ll get to visit Seville at your own pace, with total flexibility to enjoy a great sightseeing experience your way:

• Hop on – hop off : 15 bus stops where you can hop on and hop off as many times as you like
• Free Wi-Fi on board
• Complimentary earphones
• Ticket management
• Employment and training
• Advertising solutions

• Legal notice
• Privacy policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Purchase
• Website accessibility

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Seville Sightseeing Bus

The sightseeing bus in Seville is the  best way to quickly and easily discover all of the city's main tourist attractions . Plus, with its open-top, you'll be able to enjoy  wonderful views of the city .

The hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus in Seville has an  English audio guide  about each of the city's monuments.

Routes and Stops

The sightseeing bus in Seville has one route with  14 stops  in the most emblematic places, including the Torre del Oro , the Triana neighborhood , the Maestranza bullring , Plaza de España , the Cathedral,  and the Giralda .

Times and Frequency

The sightseeing bus runs  every 30 minutes from 10 am until 8 pm.

You may also be interested in

Opened in the year 2009, the Seville metro is an 11-mile (18 km) light metro with a total of 22 stations. It is a small but efficient system that is easy to use.

The price of taxis is Seville is similar to other Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Cordoba. As most of the places of interest are in the city centre, if you take a taxi it will most likely be for a short journey.

Seville City Sightseeing bus

For those of you who like touring cities on top of a city sightseeing bus, Seville offers several alternatives. Two companies operate several touristic bus routes. All the details can be found below.

Combine your city sightseeing bus ticket with a Sevilla Card to save time skipping waiting lines and take advantage of priory access in the main museums and monuments.

Table of Contents

How does a hop on-hop off bus work?

If you are already familiar with open top bus tours, also know as hop on-hop off, the available services in Seville are pretty much identical as to what you could find in other city across the world.

Nevertheless, if you haven’t heard of theses buses or have taken one of them, here is how they work:

• Companies operate one or several routes that include the city’s most important highlights.
• Each route has a certain number of stops where you can hop on and off the bus. These stops are not always located in the same spot as public transport buses are.
• You generally catch a double deck bus. These buses offer an audio guide service as well, available in several languages, providing comprehensive comments on the highlight you are visiting.
• You get a ticket and pay a fixed price.
• The ticket entitles you to unlimited trips in every route of the company’s buses for a limited period of time – usually 24 or 48 hours.
• You can hop on and off the bus as many times as you’d like provided that your ticket is still valid.
• The tourist buses have a limited frequency and chances are you may have to wait between 30 minutes and one hour before the next bus stops where you are.

Is it worth to catch a tourist bus?

Here are some valid reasons that support the idea of catching a bus to visit a city.

1. An open top bus tour is an interesting idea if you are going to spend little time in town. For example, if you land in Seville as a first stop before heading south on a road trip around Andalucía. The tourist bus allows you to have a sneak peek of Seville.

2. If you are going to spend a few days in the city, you might take one of these buses on your first day to have a complete summary of what’s worth visiting. Then, in the following days you can spend time going to the places that interest you more.

3. A double deck bus offers a new perspective compared to what you can see on a walk.

4. It’s worth considering if you’d like to take advantage of the bus route and easily reach far away sights.

On the contrary, you shouldn’t go on a city sightseeing bus if you:

• Like to visit places at your own pace and do not advocate rally-tourism.
• Intend to a have a relaxed visit of several highlights or museums in one day. Since these buses are not very frequent, you risk wasting a precious time while waiting for the bus to come. Try walking instead.

City Sightseeing Seville (red buses)

This open top tour bus has a unique route. You can catch the bus at 14 stops, including Torre del Oro , Plaza de España , Isla Mágica amusement park and the CAAC (also known as the Cartuja Monastery). You can also download a map so you can then visit the surrounding area when you get off the bus.

The tour lasts one hour approximately and several guided walking tours are included. You can choose among the following:

• At 10:30, wander around the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the historical center where the most important monuments such as the Cathedral and the Alcázar are.
• At 12:00, explore the Parque de María Luisa and its impressive Plaza de España .
• At 13:30, get to know the city from which Ferdinand Magellan undertook the first expedition to sail around the world.
• At 17:30 (October to May) or at 19:00 (June to September), discover Triana, a very picturesque neighborhood of Seville.

Your tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours from the first time you use it, and you only need to wait for 15 minutes at every stop for a bus to come.

Get now your City Sightseeing Seville hop-on hop-off tour tickets.

Sevirama (green buses)

The Sevirama open top tour bus has currently 2 routes (90 minutes each):

• The Monumental Seville Tour. This is the longest route as it includes the most interesting places in both riverbeds from the city.
• The Romantic Seville Tour goes around the Maria Luisa Park, a gorgeous area where you can have a walk around the Plaza de España or visit a museum . Then, the bus continues its way to show you the beautiful architectural complex created for the the Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair that took place in Seville in 1929.

The ticket includes a guided walking tour of one hour. The tour is led by a guide who speaks both Spanish and English. Usually the morning walking tour is around Triana, an area often underrated by foreigners but full of charm and for some the cradle of Andalusia. Then, in the afternoon, you can stroll around the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the oldest part of Seville where most of the monuments and exciting places are located.

Get now your Sevirama hop-on hop-off tour tickets.

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No Cancellation Charges  up to 24 hours before the chosen travel date. 100% cancellation fee applied within 24 hours of travel date.

For groups of 12 or more, you may send us an inquiry at [email protected]. Although we do not guarantee bulk deals for all our tours, there are some tours for which we can offer discounted pricing. Ordinary hop-on-hop-off bus tickets are entitled to group savings. Attractions, pass items and combo tickets aren't.

Due the nature of this type of tour and varying demand, group travellers should be aware that there is no guarantee that the group will be able to travel altogether as the available seats vary from stop to stop and depends on demand each day. The group may need to split up and/or wait for the next bus(s).

As, we cannot guarantee that the group shall be able to travel together as one group, therefore we will reduce the group size down to 4-5 smaller groups per ticket (depending upon group size).

City Sightseeing: Moscow Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

This Tour Is Not Available Right Now

Click here to explore more activities in moscow.

Lowest Price Guarantee *

Select Date, Travellers and Ticket

• The Bus Tour offers unlimited 360° panoramic views of main sights of Moscow.
• Access to audio-guide in 10 different languages which enables to know about Moscow’s history and traditions.
• The three-bus tour routes and 40+ stops around Moscow completes the trip. Draw an itinerary to explore the city on your own.
• There can be a boat tour and bus tour to enjoy panoramic views of Moskva River.
• Smartphone Voucher Accepted. (No need to print)

The City Sightseeing at Moscow begins at Bolotnaya Square with Hop-on-Hop-off bus service. The bus operates on the Red, Green and Orange lines. If you have limited time in Moscow, start your trip on the Redline and get yourself acquainted with the city’s 16 best attractions. The green line, however, covers 26 amazing spots so if you are staying for an extended period catch the green line.

• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Alexander Garden
• GUM State Department Store
• Sofiyskaya Embankment
• Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• University Square, Vorobyovy Gory Observation Deck
• Hotel Ukraina Pier
• Zaryadye Park
• Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics
• VDNKh Metro Station
• Cosmonauts Alley
• Ostankino Television Tower
• Red Route: Schedule: 10:00 - 18:00 , Loop: 60 Minutes , Frequency: 15 Minutes
• Green Route : Schedule: 10:00 - 18:00 , Loop: 120 Minutes , Frequency: 30 Minutes
• Orange Route : Schedule: 10:00 - 18:30 , Loop: 140 Minutes , Frequency: 30 Minutes
• 24 / 48-Hours Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket
• Red Line Audio Guide: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Farsi
• Green Line Audio Guide: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Arabic
• Orange Line Audio Guide : Russian English, German, Spanish, Italian, French
• Guided walking tour
• Boat Tour (If option selected)
• Hotel Transfers
• Entrance Fees (Unless Specified)

Redemption Info

You can board the bus at any stop and voucher can be exchanged directly with the driver. Printed vouchers required for this tour and are accepted at all stops. You will receive a ticket in exchange for your voucher, which you must keep until the expiry date/ tour. Please check your ticket to know when it expires. After exchanging your voucher for a ticket, your voucher will no longer be valid. In loss of voucher/ticket, company is not liable for any refund. Book Now! You can use your ticket any day within 12 months.

Know Before You Go

Wheelchair Access, Heating Please note that face masks must be worn on board the bus. Orange Route is temporarily suspended   

Operational Details: Walking Tour

• Daily at 10:45 a.m.
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Meeting point: next to the monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius (Kitay-Gorod metro station)

Capital River Boat Tour

• May - October: from 11:30am to 6:30pm (Subject to change)
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Departure Point: Zaryadye Park Pier

Useful Downloads

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Putin offers truce if Ukraine exits Russian-claimed areas and drops NATO bid. Kyiv rejects it

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Such a deal appears a nonstarter for Kyiv, which wants to join the military alliance and has demanded that Russia withdraw its troops from all of its territory.

President Vladimir Putin on Friday denounced the freezing of Russian assets by the West as “theft” and vowed that it would not go “unpunished” in a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Putin’s remarks came on the heels of a deal by the Group of Seven industrialized nations for a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrive to a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov makes a statement after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (Alexey Maishev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov leave a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv began withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory.

Putin’s remarks came as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders -- but not from Moscow -- this weekend to try to map out first steps toward peace in Ukraine.

They also coincided with a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Italy and after the U.S. and Ukraine this week signed a 10-year security agreement that Russian officials, including Putin, denounced as “null and void.”

Putin blasted the Switzerland conference as “just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention, reverse the cause and effect of the Ukrainian crisis (and) set the discussion on the wrong track.”

His demands came in a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry and was aimed at what he called a “final resolution” of the conflict rather than “freezing it,” and stressed the Kremlin is “ready to start negotiations without delay.”

Broader demands for peace that Putin listed included Ukraine’s recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, keeping the country’s nonnuclear status, restricting its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population. All of these should be part of “fundamental international agreements,” and all Western sanctions against Russia should be lifted, Putin said.

“We’re urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring, step-by-step, the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,” he said.

Putin’s remarks, made to a group of somber Foreign Ministry officials and some senior lawmakers, represented a rare occasion in which he clearly laid out his conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, but it didn’t include any new demands. The Kremlin has said before that Kyiv should recognize its territorial gains and drop its bid to join NATO.

Zelenskyy, in Italy for the G7 meeting, said Putin’s proposal was not new and was in the form of an “ultimatum,” comparing it to actions by Adolf Hitler in seizing territory that led to World War II.

“What Putin demands is to give them a part of our territories, those occupied and not occupied, talking about several regions of our country,” he said.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called Putin’s plan “manipulative,” “absurd” and designed to “mislead the international community, undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just peace, and split the unity of the world majority around the goals and principles of the U.N. Charter.”

Besides seeking to join NATO, Ukraine wants Russian forces out of its territory, including the Crimean Peninsula that was illegally annexed in 2014; the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity; and that Russia be held accountable for war crimes and for Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv.

Russia launched its a full-scale invasion in February 2022. After Ukrainian forces thwarted a Russian drive to the capital, much of the fighting has focused in the south and east, where Moscow illegally annexed four regions, although it doesn’t fully control any of them.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on social media there was nothing new from Putin and that the Russian leader “voiced only the ‘standard aggressor’s set,’ which has been heard many times already.”

“There is no novelty in this, no real peace proposals and no desire to end the war. But there is a desire not to pay for this war and to continue it in new formats. It’s all a complete sham,” Podolyak wrote on X.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels that Putin “has illegally occupied sovereign Ukrainian territory. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about a peace.”

Austin added that Putin “started this war with no provocation. He could end it today if he chose to do that.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg added that “this is not a peace proposal. This is a proposal of more aggression, more occupation, and it demonstrates in a way that that Russia’s aim is to control Ukraine.”

Putin insisted that Kyiv should withdraw from all four annexed regions entirely and essentially cede them to Moscow within their administrative borders. In Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, Russia still doesn’t control the region’s administrative capital with a pre-war population of about 700,000; in the neighboring Kherson region, Moscow withdrew from its biggest city and capital of the same name in November 2022.

Putin said if “Kyiv and Western capitals” reject his offer, “it is their business, their political and moral responsibility for continuing the bloodshed.”

The Kremlin has repeatedly aired its readiness for peace talks with Kyiv and blamed the West for undermining its efforts to end the conflict.

Putin went further Friday and claimed his troops never intended to storm Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, even though they approached the city.

“In essence, it was nothing other than an operation to force the Ukrainian regime to peace. The troops were there to push the Ukrainian side to negotiate, to try and find an acceptable solution,” he said.

Moscow withdrew from Kyiv in March 2022 and described it a goodwill gesture as peace talks between the two began, but the pullback took place amid fierce Ukrainian resistance that significantly slowed down Russia’s battlefield advances.

Putin also claimed that in that same month, he told a foreign official he wasn’t ruling out withdrawing forces from the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and ceding occupied parts of them back to Ukraine, as long as Kyiv allowed Russia to have a “strong land connection” to Crimea.

He said the official planned on bringing that proposal to Kyiv — which Moscow “welcomed,” as it generally welcomed “attempts to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict.” But the Kremlin then annexed both regions, along with the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, citing the results of sham “referendums” it staged there. Putin mentioned those and said, “The matter is closed forever and is no longer up for discussion.”

In Friday’s fighting, Russian defenses shot down 87 Ukrainian drones, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said, most of them launched against the Rostov region, home to Russia’s southern military command, but no deaths or damage were reported in one of the biggest Ukrainian drone barrages of the war .

In Russia’s Belgorod region on the border, part of a residential building collapsed in the town of Shebekino after Ukrainian shelling, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Three people were injured, he said.

Ukraine’s military has been on the back foot in recent months, with its troops outnumbered by the Kremlin’s forces and running short of ammunition and weaponry due to delays in promised Western military aid.

Russia has battered Ukraine with drones, especially its power grid. It fired 14 missiles and 17 Shahed drones overnight, Ukraine’s air force said. Air defense systems downed all the drones as well as seven missiles, it said.

The attacks injured six people in the Donetsk region, where residential buildings were hit, officials said.

A Russian drone struck a bus near the village of Esman in the northern Sumy region, injuring three women. Authorities say 20 passengers were in the bus at the time.

Also Friday, Russia returned to Ukraine the bodies of 254 of its soldiers, Kyiv said. Once identified, the bodies will be returned to relatives, according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War —- Associated Press writers Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Samya Kullab and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, Lorne Cook in Brussels, and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

William Goines, first Black member of Navy SEALs, dies at 87

When the Navy SEALs were formed in 1962, Mr. Goines was the only Black service member among the original personnel.

William Goines, who as a child learned to swim in a creek near Cincinnati after being blocked from the local Whites-only public pool and later passed a grueling Navy training regime to become the first Black member of the modern-era SEALs in the early 1960s, died June 10 at a hospital in Virginia Beach. He was 87.

The cause was a heart attack, said his wife, Marie Goines.

During a 32-year Navy career — and scores of classified missions with SEAL teams and their precursor unit — Mr. Goines saw combat during three tours in Vietnam and was deployed for a possible invasion of Cuba in October 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis , one of the Cold War’s most dramatic showdowns.

With Cuba blockaded by U.S. warships, Mr. Goines and others were on a boat ready to mount amphibious attacks if the Soviet Union did not back down on plans to keep nuclear missiles on the island. In the end, Washington and Moscow pulled back to avert a potential superpower clash.

“It was so secret back then,” he said of his early missions, “they wouldn’t even tell us what we were going to do.” Mr. Goines retired from the Navy in 1987 as a master chief petty officer.

The U.S. military started to desegregate its forces after World War II, but the ranks of leadership and elite teams remained nearly all White in 1955 when Mr. Goines enlisted after graduating from high school. At the time, the path for many Black newcomers in the Navy was often steward roles such as cooking and serving in the officers’ mess.

Someone in Mr. Goines’s hometown of Lockland, Ohio, advised him to avoid that route if he wanted to advance in the Navy. “Whatever you do don’t accept a school for stewards,” he recalled being told , “because all you’re going to be is a servant for officers.”

Mr. Goines had already faced segregation while growing up. Authorities in Lockland enforced a strict segregation code at the public swimming pool. “When integration came to the area, the way I understand it, they filled the pool in with rocks and gravel so nobody could swim in it,” he said.

He taught himself to swim in a creek near his home. Sometimes, he went to nearby Hartwell, where the town pool allowed Blacks from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. “They would blow a whistle and we’d have to get out,” Mr. Goines told The Washington Post. “They would drain the pool to get it ready for the Whites.”

In the Navy, Mr. Goines insisted he wanted to be part of active operations. Eventually, he was accepted in a training program for the Navy’s underwater demolition team, then known as frogmen, whose missions in World War II included valuable reconnaissance of Normandy beaches and German defenses before the D-Day landings in 1944. (Mr. Goines said he was inspired to join the Navy by the 1951 movie “The Frogmen.”)

He was sent to Malta. There, he began nearly a year of drills and rigorous instruction such as close-hand combat, martial arts, parachute drops and survival skills. In Mr. Goines’s class were Navy officers, enlisted personnel, Army Rangers and naval officers from various countries. Only 14 men, including Mr. Goines, successfully completed the training in 1957.

Mr. Goines was not the first Black member of the underwater demolition team. During the Korean War, a Black frogman, Fred Morrison , was part of missions that including helping rescue five Marines on a beach under heavy gunfire. Morrison was awarded a Bronze Star and Navy Unit Commendation. In early 1962, President John F. Kennedy formed the original two Navy SEAL teams — standing for Sea, Air and Land — to boost American special forces capabilities.

Mr. Goines was among 40 personnel, and the only Black frogman, picked for SEAL Team Two based near Virginia Beach. Team One was set up on the West Coast.

Even with his SEAL status, Mr. Goines said racism remained a fact of life in the South. At a bar in Norfolk, he was initially refused entrance. He was eventually allowed in — but only after other SEALs threatened to leave and bad-mouth the bar.

Once, during a trip with Navy personnel, Mr. Goines was denied service at a restaurant. “Our officer told everybody to just stop what they were doing and to get back on the bus,” he recalled. He drove down the road and got take out sandwiches.

“I helped integrate a lot of places — not on purpose,” Mr. Goines told the Virginian-Pilot in 2018.

Parachute team

William Harvey Goines was born in Dayton, Ohio, on Sept. 10, 1936, and moved to Lockland as a child with his family. His father, who passed for White, worked in an automotive plant and was co-owner of a gas station; his mother was a homemaker.

His father lost a few jobs, however, when employers discovered his background. “Not because they thought he was Black,” Mr. Goines recalled, “but because he was married to a Black woman.”

After the Vietnam War, Mr. Goines joined the Navy’s parachute exhibition team, the Chuting Stars, and performed more than 600 precision jumps over five years. His only serious injury was tearing cartilage in his knees when he landed hard during an event in Pennsylvania.

He later served as a recruiter, encouraging Black personnel to consider SEAL training. He also headed security for the school system in Portsmouth, Va.

His awards include a Bronze Star and a Navy Commendation Medal. In 2023, the U.S. Navy Memorial presented him with the Lone Sailor Award , given to veterans for distinction in their naval careers or after their service.

When curators of the National Museum of African American History and Culture were looking to build their collection, Mr. Goines donated his retirement memento. Under SEAL tradition, those stepping down from service get a display with a host of weapons including a knife, bullets and a deactivated grenade. The array is called “Tools of the Trade.”

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, the former Marie Davis.

Mr. Goines trailblazing service came close to never even beginning. He had lost the tip of his right index finger in a wood shop accident in high school. The officers evaluating candidates for underwater demolition team training questioned whether he was fit because of damage to his trigger finger.

“I said, ‘No, I’m left-handed,” he recalled in an interview with NBC News.

“Were you?” the interviewer asked

“Not really,” he said, smiling.