Connect with us

Politics

Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump both ready to talk

Published

on

Trump has repeatedly praised Putin over the yearsImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Silva
Spread the love

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election. The Kremlin chief said Trump’s past remarks about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia warranted attention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Donald Trump on his US election victory and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with the Republican president-elect.

Trump, who also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has boasted he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine within hours and has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine.

What Trump and Putin said about each other

In his first public remarks since Trump’s win, Putin highlighted Trump’s remarks during the US election campaign about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia.

“What was said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, this deserves attention at least,” said Putin.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate him,” Putin said in remarks to the Valdai forum in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

When asked if he was open to holding talks with Trump, the Russian leader said: “Ready.”

Putin also praised Trump, saying the former president had acted like a “real man” during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July.

Trump also revealed he was prepared for some kind of conversation, telling NBC News in an interview that “I think we’ll speak.”

The 78-year-old said he had spoken to “probably” 70 world leaders since Wednesday morning but revealed that he had not talked to Putin.

A book by US investigative reporter Bob Woodward has asserted that Trump and Putin may have spoken as many as seven times during Joe Biden’s presidency.

Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Putin as well as other authoritarian leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Zelensky says call with Trump ‘excellent’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had an “excellent call” with Trump, who has threatened to cut off the steady flow of US aid for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s nearly three-year-old invasion.

“I praised his family and team for their great work,” Zelenskyy said. “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”

Kyiv is desperate to shore up support from European allies in its fight against Moscow after Trump’s victory raised doubts about future US assistance.

Speaking to European leaders at a summit in Hungary, Zelenskyy said it would be “unacceptable” for Europe to offer the Kremlin concessions to halt its invasion of Ukraine.

He criticized those who were pressuring him to give in to some of Putin’s tough demands that Ukraine cede swathes more territory in its east and south as a precondition to peace talks.

“There has been much talk about the need to yield to Putin, to back down, to make some concessions,” Zelensky said in an address.

“It’s unacceptable for Ukraine and unacceptable for all Europe,” he added.

Politics

House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF

Published

on

House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF
Spread the love

 

The House of Representatives has passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025 to 2027 as submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

This followed the consideration and approval of the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning which laid its report at Wednesday’s plenary.

The House adopted the projected oil benchmark prices pegged at 75 dollars per barrel for 2025, as well as 76.2 dollars and 75.3 dollars per barrel for 2026 and 2027.

Domestic Crude Oil Production Projections for 2025 is put at 2.06 million barrels per day representing a significant increase from 1.78 million barrels per day in the current year.

GDP growth rate is projected at 4.6, 4.4 and 5.5 percent for 2025 to 2027, respectively, while the projected exchange rate is pegged at 1,400 Naira to the US Dollar for years 2025, 2026 and 2027

The MTEF projections aim towards a realistic and sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s budget planning over the next three years.

Continue Reading

Politics

President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris on a state visit in honour of an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron.

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris on a state visit in honour of an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron.
Spread the love

 

The president is on the trip alongside first lady, Oluremi.

They were seen off by top government functionaries led by secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume, chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The presidential zero-one-one air plane took off at about twenty minutes past eleven this Wednesday morning.

A statement by the presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga reveals that, the Nigerian leader’s three-day visit, which will focus on strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations and establishing more opportunities for partnership, promises significant benefits for Nigeria.

President Tinubu and his wife, are expected to be received on Thursday at the French military museum, Les Invalides and Palais de l’Élysée, by the host president, Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, for initial ceremonies that will dovetail into bilateral meetings.

The two presidents are also to harmonise positions on stimulating more interest in exchange programmes that focus on skill development for youths and improving their competencies in automation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

Both leaders will witness a session by the France-Nigeria Business Council, which oversees private sector participation in economic development.

Wife of the host president, Brigitte and Nigeria’s First Lady are also scheduled to discuss the Renewed Hope Initiative and the interest for empowering women, children, and the most vulnerable in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Politics

PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS

Published

on

PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS
Spread the love

PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

A statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations Office the
Secretary to the Government of
the Federation says the appointment takes effect from 14th of this month. It adds that the appointment is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

It notes that until the appointment, Jami’u served as the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President.

President Tinubu tasks the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.

Continue Reading

Trending