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Putin Ready for Talks with Trump as Ukraine Conflict Escalates

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Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed on Friday his willingness to engage in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, calling Trump a “smart” and “pragmatic” leader who may have prevented the war had he remained in power.

Putin’s remarks came amidst a backdrop of rising tensions, with the Kremlin indicating it was waiting for “signals” from Washington despite Trump’s declaration on Thursday that he was ready to meet Putin “immediately.”

“We have always said, and I want to emphasise this once again, that we are ready for these negotiations on Ukrainian issues,” Putin told Russian state television.

The Russian leader went on to praise Trump, agreeing with the former U.S. president’s unsubstantiated claim that he won the 2020 presidential election.

“I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president — if his victory hadn’t been stolen in 2020 — then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that emerged in 2022,” Putin said.

Trump has been a vocal critic of the ongoing conflict, calling it “ridiculous” and warning Russia of severe economic consequences if it does not halt its military actions.

“If they don’t settle this war soon, like almost immediately, I’m going to put massive tariffs on Russia, and massive taxes, and also big sanctions,” Trump told Fox News on Thursday.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos the same day, Trump suggested that lower oil prices could bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to a swift end.

“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” he claimed.

However, Putin rejected this notion, expressing doubt that the U.S. would take actions that could harm its own economy.

“I have a hard time imagining there will be decisions taken that are detrimental to the American economy,” Putin responded.

Despite Trump’s tough rhetoric, no signs of de-escalation have emerged from either side since his inauguration.

The conflict, which has now lasted nearly three years, has driven U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point since the Cold War.

Trump has previously stated that, if given the opportunity, he could end the war within “24 hours.”

Ukraine, however, has firmly rejected any talks that exclude its involvement. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, warned against sidelining Ukraine in any negotiations, asserting, “He (Putin) wants to negotiate the fate of Europe — without Europe.

And he wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine. This is not going to happen. Putin needs to come back to reality himself, or he will be brought back. This is not how it works in the modern world.”

Meanwhile, the conflict continued to escalate, with Russian aerial strikes in the Kyiv region killing at least three people and injuring others, according to Ukrainian officials.

A drone hit a residential building, adding to the death toll as emergency responders recovered the victims.

Ukrainian military officials reported overnight drone attacks on Russian infrastructure, including an oil refinery, power stations, and an electronics factory in the Bryansk region.

The relentless assaults, which have become a daily occurrence since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continue to target military and energy facilities, contributing to mounting civilian casualties and widespread damage.

 

 

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Tunisia’s President Fires Finance Minister, Appoints Magistrate

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Tunisia’s President, Kais Saied, has dismissed the country’s finance minister and appointed a new official to the position.

Michket Slama Khaldi, a magistrate, has been chosen to oversee the nation’s financial affairs.

The announcement was made on the presidency’s official Facebook page overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by images of her swearing-in ceremony.

No explanation was provided for the removal of outgoing minister Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia. The presidency also did not elaborate on the reasons behind the appointment.

Before her new role, Khaldi led a national commission focused on retrieving misappropriated public funds.

Tunisia has been grappling with intermittent shortages of essential goods, including milk, sugar, and flour, over the past two years.

More recently, the country has also faced difficulties in securing domestic gas cylinders, a crucial resource for cooking and heating.

 

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Okpebholo Uncovers N682bn Debt, Alleged Mismanagement

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Edo State Asset Verification Committee has disclosed that the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki left behind a substantial debt of N682.57 billion.

Presenting the committee’s findings to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday, Chairman Ernest Umakhihe highlighted financial discrepancies and questionable contract allocations under the previous leadership.

The extensive 3,900-page report revealed that when Obaseki took office in 2016, the state’s debt stood at N84 billion.

Over the years, liabilities increased by more than 900%, raising concerns about fiscal mismanagement.

According to the committee, numerous contracts awarded during the past administration exhibited irregularities, prompting calls for a thorough review of all agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.

One significant finding was the state’s N19 billion investment in a hotel project, despite owning only 20% of it.

The remaining 80% was reportedly controlled by a company established in 2024, which had not contributed funds at the time of the agreement.

Additionally, the report uncovered that 22 contracts, valued at N22 billion, were awarded for ICT-related projects, with 18 companies receiving payments totaling N17 billion by November 2024.

Concerns were also raised about non-state actors managing the backend of the e-governance platform.

Further scrutiny fell on projects such as the modular refinery, the Museum of West African Arts, and the renovation of Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

Despite a budget of nearly N1 billion, the hospital was commissioned before completion.

Regarding a $75 million World Bank fund designated for basic education reform, the report stated that only $5 million was allocated to the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board.

Of this amount, just $2.5 million was used before the project concluded, while the remaining $70 million was reportedly handled directly by the governor’s office under a “Performance for Results” arrangement.

The committee recommended forensic investigations into assets and enterprises tied to the state before Obaseki’s tenure, legal action against implicated officials, blacklisting of indicted companies, prosecution of contractors who violated regulations, and a full audit of the Edo BEST programme to track the use of World Bank funds.

Receiving the report at the Government House in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude for the committee’s dedication and assured that the recommendations would be implemented.

“I appreciate the committee for a job well done and the time invested in this exercise. I understand the challenges you faced, yet you successfully carried out this crucial assignment. Rest assured that your findings and recommendations will be implemented appropriately,” he stated.

In response, Umakhihe stressed that the report was not merely an assessment of past actions but a directive for necessary reforms.

However, when reached for comment, Crusoe Osagie, former Governor Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, dismissed the allegations. He accused the committee of distorting facts and misleading the public.

“For the benefit of the people of Edo State and the public, every activity of the government was in the report of the transition committee, which was handed to the new government. Everything raised in their so-called verification committee is nothing but falsehood and in the coming days.

“We will publish everything item by item for the people of the state to see. The Okpebholo government is in possession of everything that the Obaseki government did and what the committee is claiming is all false,” he said.

 

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