The Ukrainian president said NATO is his country’s best security guarantee but that the US is “not ready” for Ukraine to join. Zelenskyy also called out the US special envoy for “frequently” repeating Russian propaganda.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believed his country’s partners should show the same resilience and strength when facing Russia that Ukraine does.

Zelenskyy, who spoke to a panel of European journalists after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, specifically addressed the US role in the negotiations with Moscow in an attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Asked about whether the US would show the strength he mentioned, Zelenskyy said that he hoped they would.

“God bless they will,” he said.

Public support in the US

The Ukrainian leader expressed his gratitude for the fact that most of the American public supports Ukraine.

“We have had bipartisan support, and I cannot help but be grateful to America for all it has done,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris
© Yoan Valat/AP Photo/picture alliance

At the same time, Zelenskyy said the US is “under the influence of the Russian narrative.”

One recent example of a US official parroting Russia’s narrative was special adviser Steve Witkoff, who suggested Ukrainians living in the areas occupied by Russia want to live under Russian rule, even though the referendums held in the regions occupied by Russia have not been internationally acknowledged as legitimate.

“I believe that Witkoff indeed very frequently quotes Kremlin narratives,” the Ukrainian leader said, adding that Witkoff’s statements “do not bring us closer to peace” and “will weaken American pressure on Russia.”

NATO to benefit from a Ukraine membership

Speaking about his country’s future, Zelenskyy said he still believed NATO is the best security guarantee for Kyiv and that the military alliance would also benefit from the Ukrainian army’s wartime experience.

“NATO will be strengthened by Ukraine as Europe does not have an army that has gone through war in the amount that Russia has,” he said, while also acknowledging this would not happen without support from the US. “The problem is that the United States of America is not ready for this step.”

While in Paris, Zelenskyy is set to attend a security summit on Thursday with representatives from 31 countries to discuss long-term security guarantees and sustained military support for Ukraine.

At the end of the day, Zelenskyy said his country is still interested in reaching a comprehensive ceasefire but the Russians are not.

“Not only [Russians] are an aggressor, but they still put forward their preconditions,” he said. “That’s their style.”

Zelenskyy also mentioned the ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia, saying Ukraine’s number one goal was to secure the return of the children abducted by Russia since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, numbered by Ukrainian authorities at 20,000.

“This is the exchange, the return of our children that the Russians stole,” he said.

A fatal road accident at Eldorado Cina Junction along Airport Road in Kano claimed the lives of two people and left one seriously injured on Wednesday morning.

The crash which occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m., involved a commercial DAF truck and a private Jincheng motorcycle. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command attributed the accident to dangerous driving.

Confirming the incident, the Sector Public Education Officer, CRC Abdullahi Labaran, said FRSC personnel arrived at the scene within three minutes of receiving the alert.

“Our operatives acted swiftly to rescue the injured victim and transport him to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, while the deceased were taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,” Labaran stated.

He further disclosed that six males were involved in the crash, with two fatalities and one sustaining serious injuries. The remaining three escaped unhurt.

The vehicles and recovered items were handed over to Gwagwarwa Police Division for further investigation. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies.

“The FRSC deeply regrets this incident. We extend our condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured victim a speedy recovery,” Labaran added.

This latest crash underscores ongoing concerns over road safety in Kano, with officials emphasizing the need for strict compliance with traffic laws.

Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) have rescued a woman who consumed several bottles of medication in an attempt to end her life.

Multiple calls were received from residents in the area on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 reporting that the woman had turned on a love song and was in the process of attempting suic!de.

Responding Officers found the music blaring and the woman unconscious.

Reaction Officers were forced to break a gate that was locked from the inside after arriving on scene and finding the female lying on the kitchen floor.

Reaction Officers have not gathered information at this stage but were informed that the female lived with her girlfriend on the premises.

The girlfriend was not on scene at the time of the incident.