Politics

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he is ready to hold direct talks with Putin

Published

2 months ago

February 5, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during his meeting with Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. © Efrem Lukatsky/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised his willingness to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as long as that would be the only format which could “bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people.”

When asked during the interview with British journalist Piers Morgan how he felt about potentially sitting opposite Putin at a negotiating table, Zelenskyy said, “If that is the only set-up in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this set-up.”

He later said, without specifying who, that any such talks would be with four participants. In an earlier interview over the weekend, however, he said that he “would like to see the United States of America, Ukraine and the Russians at the negotiating table… And, to be honest, a European Union voice should also be there.”

Any such conversation would need to happen after a meeting between himself and US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy remarked at the time.

Referring to Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy said, “I will not be kind to him, I consider him an enemy. To be honest, I think he considers me an enemy, too.”

In Tuesday’s interview, the Ukrainian president admitted that his country is likely to lose at least some of the territory that has been taken by Russia since its invasion began in February 2022.

In a sharp criticism of Ukraine’s backers in the war, Zelenskyy lamented that “regrettably, the support that is provided by our partners is insufficient to push Putin fully out of our territories.”

Nevertheless, he pointed to NATO membership as Ukraine’s best chance to end the war and guarantee the country’s security.

In the interview, Zelenskyy estimated Ukraine’s war dead to be at 45,100 with 390,000 injured. He claimed Russia had suffered 350,000 deaths and 700,000 injuries.

US President Donald Trump, whose future actions will be key to determining the outcome of the war, said during a press conference on Tuesday that the US is “talking to the Russians, we’re talking to the Ukrainian leadership.” He did not provide further details.

Last week, Putin said Russia would be “open” to peace talks, but shifted the blame, saying there was no willingness on its part to solve legal issues. He also described Zelenskyy as “not legitimate” to lead any potential talks, and ruled out speaking with him directly, saying he would “allocate appropriate people” to take part in negotiations.

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Politics

Kano deputy gov reports back after peace-building mission in Edo

Published

6 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has reassured northerners living in Edo State about their safety, following the recent violence that led to the deaths of several Kano indigenes.

He made these remarks shortly after returning from a fact-finding and peace-building mission to Edo.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Gwarzo led a high-powered delegation to the South-South state. The delegation included the Emir of Rano, Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umar, four commissioners, the Chairman of Bunkure Local Government (the area most affected by the incident), and the representative of the Edo community in Kano.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Gwarzo revealed that the visit followed an earlier condolence mission by Governor Monday Okpebholo to the Torankawa Community in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano, where seven of the victims hailed from.

Gwarzo noted that the delegation visited the scene of the incident in Uromi, Edo State, where they were warmly received by both political and traditional leaders.

He described the reception as overwhelming, with a massive crowd, largely consisting of northerners, showing solidarity and appreciation.

“We met with the king of Uromi Kingdom and his senior chiefs. The Edo State governor personally accompanied us to the scene. It was a long journey nearly two hours from Benin but the turnout was incredible,” he said.

He commended the Edo State leadership for its proactive actions, including the disbandment of the vigilante group allegedly involved in the killings, the arrest of 14 suspects, and ongoing efforts by security agencies to apprehend those still at large.

“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State was transferred due to the incident, which shows the seriousness with which the state government is handling the situation,” the deputy governor stated.

He further disclosed that Kano had compiled a comprehensive report, documenting the victims and the extent of losses suffered, including properties destroyed.

He said the report has been formally submitted to Governor Okpebholo, who promised compensation for the victims and their families.

Gwarzo emphasized that justice remains the core demand from the Kano State Government and reiterated the constitutional right of every Nigerian to live and work peacefully in any part of the country.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to reside and earn a living anywhere in the country.”

“The governor of Edo has assured us that those responsible will be brought to book and that compensation will be provided. He made it clear that there is no animosity toward northerners in Edo. From what we witnessed, I can confidently say our people are very safe there,” he said.

He also confirmed that 26 individuals survived the attack, primarily from five local government areas in Kano.

Politics

Atiku, El-Rufai, Tambuwal visit Buhari in Kaduna

Published

7 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.

The visit, which also included former governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Nasir El-Rufa’i (Kaduna), was captured in a video sighted on the Facebook page of Atiku Abubakar.

Although the specific purpose of the visit was not disclosed, Atiku described it as a “post-Sallah visit.”

In the post, Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour. -AA”

The visit comes after governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a similar visit to Buhari in Kaduna last week, amid growing speculation about political realignments and possible coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Politics

Rivers govt debunks civil service recruitment announcement

Published

7 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Rivers State Government has refuted a widely circulated social media announcement alleging that the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, approved the recruitment of 10,000 “graduates and non-graduates” into the Rivers State civil service.

On Thursday, social media platform “Facebook”, was flooded with the purported government notice, which falsely claimed that the recruitment exercise had been sanctioned.

The statement was reported to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

However, in a statement issued by Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, the government described the information as entirely untrue and urged the public to disregard it.

The statement also clarified that any official communication on civil service recruitment would come from the Rivers State Civil Service Commission at the appropriate time.

The statement read, “The Office of the Administrator of Rivers State wishes to disclaim a purported Special Government Announcement spreading round on social media and other platforms stating that His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 qualified graduates and non graduates into the Rivers State civil service and that the recruitment portal shall be opened for application midnight of Sunday 13/04/2025.

“The statement is claimed to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

“We wish to categorically inform the people of Rivers State and the general public that this is false and ask that this fake announcement be ignored.

“Appropriate information will be released by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission in due time.”