Politics
Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump both ready to talk
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
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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