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Blinken heads to Brussels for urgent talks on Ukraine after Trump win

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Europe for urgent meetings with EU and NATO officials on Ukraine, in the shadow of Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House.

The US State Department will hold talks in Brussels on Wednesday on how to boost Ukraine’s support, anticipating a shift in US foreign policy following the transition of power to president-elect Trump.

Trump has previously suggested that he would curtail US military aid to Kyiv after he takes office as part of a general push towards an “America first” approach to foreign policy.

When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the US to promote his “victory plan” in September, Trump described the country as “demolished”.

He argued Ukraine should have made concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin before he invaded and repeated his claim that he would put an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Trump has not gone into detail about what his plans for ending the war would be.

During his first term, Trump sold Ukraine Javelin anti-tank missiles that the previous Obama administration refused to provide, which were crucial to Kyiv’s initial ability to fight off Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Nevertheless, the president-elect has been ambiguous about his concrete position on the war. In the sole presidential debate against his election opponent, Kamala Harris, Trump claimed that he wanted the war to end but refused to answer questions about how he planned to help end it.

According to data from the Kiel Institute, America is currently the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine, with contributions totalling €84.7 billion between 2022 and 2024.

Incumbent US President Joe Biden has remained steadfast in his support for Ukraine, although he stopped short of fully endorsing the Ukrainian leader’s “victory plan”.

The US is currently entering what is known as a lame-duck session, which occurs between Election Day and the end of the two-year congressional term.

As Republicans wait for the next year to have full control of the White House, Democrats are trying to implement as many of their priorities as they can while they have the majority in the Senate.

As Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told in a recent interview, “President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe.”

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

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

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

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

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It may not be Tinubu but power can’t return to North In 2027 – Okupe

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It may not be Tinubu but power can’t return to North In 2027 – Okupe
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Ex-presidential aide to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has emphatically declared that the presidency will not return to the North in 2027.

Okupe, who made the assertion on Monday during an interview, tackled those agitating for the Northern presidency in the next election.

He identified sectionalism as the “most fundamental problems why Nigeria is stagnating”, stressing that “those who control the affairs of this nation, in terms of politics before now, were more interested in national interest than sectional interest”.

He stated, “I say this authoritatively without any fear of contradiction or equivocation, in 2027, power cannot return to the North yet. That’s not how we do it.”

“We rotate between the North and the South. The North does eight years, at the end of which the South does eight years.

“I’m not saying that Bola Tinubu must be president in 2027, but it’s not going to be a northerner,” he explained.

© Blaze 91.5 FM

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