Zelenskyy urges US and allies to stand strong against Russia

Published

6 days ago

March 27, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his gratitude to the American people for their support © Ludovic Marin/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

Spread the love

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.

Edited by Sean Sinico

Author: Felix Tamsut

Algiers-Abuja direct flight service begins April 6 – Nigerian govt

Published

1 hour ago

April 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Spread the love

The Nigerian government has announced the commencement of a direct flight service from Algiers to Abuja through Air Algérie.

The government stated that flights on this route will begin on April 6, 2025.

The acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the new route, which is a result of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, will be operated by the national carrier, Air Algérie, using a Boeing 737 aircraft.

This new service is expected to enhance connectivity, promote tourism, and facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and Algeria.

With this development, the ministry noted that Nigerians will have access to more affordable flights from Algeria to Europe.

“This historic development marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria.

“It is pertinent to state that the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between both countries has culminated in this successful venture.

“The affordable fare structure and Algeria’s proximity to Europe will also provide Nigerians with a convenient gateway to Europe, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit.”

LASTMA issues stern warning to mini-bus drivers over traffic violations

Published

4 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Spread the love

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has issued a firm directive to commercial bus operators, particularly drivers of mini-buses, commonly known as Korope, warning them against unauthorized route violations or risk facing strict legal actions.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, reiterated the state government’s dedication to maintaining order on Lagos roads and ensuring the free flow of traffic.

He disclosed that LASTMA operatives have been mandated to intensify enforcement against reckless driving and illegal practices that disrupt the city’s transportation system.

Giwa strongly condemned the indiscriminate use of public roads for unauthorized parking and loading, emphasizing that such activities contribute significantly to traffic congestion and pose serious risks to other road users.

He stressed that commercial transport operators must adhere strictly to designated bus stops and terminals, warning that habitual violations will no longer be tolerated.

“Illegal parking and flagrant route violations have become a major challenge in Lagos, particularly due to the erratic conduct of mini-bus operators. These infractions not only obstruct smooth traffic flow but also compromise public safety. LASTMA has been instructed to enforce full compliance with existing traffic laws and to apprehend offenders accordingly,” Giwa stated.

He further emphasized that adherence to designated routes is essential for security purposes, as unauthorized detours by commercial buses could create loopholes for criminal activities.

LASTMA urged all road users, especially commercial drivers, to cooperate with traffic enforcement authorities by adhering to regulations and cultivating responsible driving habits.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing road safety and ensuring a more efficient transportation system for all Lagos residents.

US Senator breaks record for the longest speech ever on the senate floor with over 24 hours

Published

8 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Spread the love

Senator Cory Booker has broken the record for the longest speech ever delivered in the Senate.

The New Jersey Democrat spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes, according to his office, breaking the record for the longest floor speech in modern history of the chamber as he spoke in protest of President Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional” actions.

Booker said he would speak for as long as he was physically able as he began his address at around 19:00 local time on Monday evening. He concluded at 20:06 on Tuesday.

Booker, 55, surpassed the late Sen. Strom Thurmond’s speech that lasted 24 hour and 18 minutes in 1957. Booker said that he was speaking “in spite” of the previous record holder’s remarks against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

“Since I’ve gotten to the Senate, I always felt it was a strange shadow hanging over this institution — that the longest speech, all the issues that have come up, all the noble causes that people have done, or the things that typically try to stop – I just found it strange that he had the record,” Booker told CNN. “And as a guy who grew up with the legends of the Civil Rights Movement, myself, my parents and their friends, it just would seem wrong to me. It always seemed wrong.”

He lashed out at Trump’s radical cost-cutting policies that have seen his top advisor Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, slash entire government programs without consent from Congress.

The senator said Trump’s aggressive seizing of ever-more executive power had put US democracy at risk.

“Unnecessary hardships are being borne by Americans of all backgrounds. And institutions which are special in America, which are precious and which are unique in our country, are being recklessly – and I would say even unconstitutionally – affected, attacked, even shattered,” Booker said.

“In just 71 days the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy,” he said.