RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Zelensky says he’s ready for talks with Putin

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed readiness to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it is the only option to bring the Ukraine conflict to its end. 

He made the remarks during an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, with excerpts published on Tuesday. When asked if he was prepared to meet with the Russian president, Zelensky indicated his willingness to do so.

“If that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this setup, for this meeting,” he said. “What is my attitude to him [Putin]? I will not be kind to him and I… consider him an enemy. And to be honest, I believe he considers me an enemy as well,” he stated.

The remarks appear to reflect an apparent shift in Zelensky’s stance. He had repeatedly refused to negotiate with Putin in the past and even signed a decree explicitly banning any negotiations with Moscow and President Vladimir Putin specifically. Last month, Zelensky claimed the ban applied to all Ukrainian officials except himself, while the original 2022 decree only stated that such negotiations were “impossible” without specifying any individuals or entities prohibited from engaging in them.

Last week, Putin reiterated Moscow’s position that Zelensky lacks the legitimacy to sign any agreement, given that his presidential term expired in May 2024 and no constitutional mechanism exists to extend it. However, the Russian president stated that he was willing to send negotiators to talk to Zelensky if the latter was open to discussions.

“It’s possible to negotiate with anyone. However, due to his illegitimacy, [Zelensky] has no right to sign anything. If he wishes to participate in talks, I will deploy people who will conduct such negotiations,” Putin said.

The Ukrainian decree banning negotiations with Russia remains a major obstacle to any meaningful talks between Kiev and Moscow, Putin suggested. Additionally, he pledged to deploy a team of legal experts to assess the authority of any Ukrainian negotiating team and determine whether they had the proper legal standing to sign an agreement.

“If we start negotiations now, they will be illegitimate… Because when the current head of the regime – that’s the only way to call [Zelensky] today – signed this decree, he was a somewhat legitimate president. But now he can’t cancel it because he is illegitimate. That’s the trick, the catch, the trap,” Putin explained.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine's politics warms up as US focuses on war's endgame

After Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine's normally febrile political life was becalmed under martial law. But there have been growing signs of activity picking up, as the United States has set its sights on finishing the war with Russia quickly.

In the past week, one Ukrainian political camp has accused President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's team of caring more about elections than the war, Kyiv's mayor has said a presidential appointee is sabotaging his work and opposition figures have been travelling overseas.

"It's to do with Trump, the expectation that there will be negotiations ... The activity has increased, there's clearly more domestic political nervousness," said Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst.

In what could fuel a sense of a looming return to politics, Reuters reported on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump's team wants Kyiv to hold a presidential election by the year-end, especially if it can agree on a ceasefire with Moscow.

Petro Poroshenko, a former president and leading opposition figure, has been pictured shaking hands with numerous foreign officials in recent weeks.

He denies it has anything to do with elections, which he says would work in Russian President Vladimir Putin's favour and destabilise Ukraine at a dangerous moment.

"Our task is to win the war," Poroshenko told Reuters.

Yet his European Solidarity Party has accused Zelenskiy of trying to bar him from parliament and of focusing on "upcoming elections instead of handling the war".

A former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has become more visible of late, meeting European Union officials abroad and protesting about Ukraine's detention of a general over a botched defensive operation last May.

Last week, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, a potential presidential challenger, accused Zelenskiy's entourage of political intrigue, saying the city's military administrator, appointed by the president, had deliberately derailed the work of his civilian administration.

Asked to comment, Zelenskiy's team referred the matter to the city administrator, who has dismissed Klitschko's allegations as unsubstantiated.

Fesenko said some political groupings were assembling activists and working on election campaign teams. He said he had seen no such activity in Zelenskiy's camp and that politicians were probably jumping the gun if they saw an election looming.

"It's a false start in my opinion," he said.

FALSE PRETEXT?

U.S. officials say no policy decisions have been made and their strategy on Ukraine is evolving. Ukrainian politicians, both from the ruling bloc and opposition, say elections before the war ends could undermine national unity.

There are also logistical challenges.

Serhiy Dubovik, deputy head of Ukraine's Central Election Commission, told Reuters it would take at least four to six months to prepare so that campaigning could start ahead of an election, given the displacement of voters and widespread destruction.

Millions of Ukrainians still live abroad, millions more are internally displaced by the war, a fifth of Ukraine is occupied and frontline areas have been devastated.

Zelenskiy has said elections will happen straight after the end of martial law, which was declared to provide the state with emergency powers to fight Russia. The legislation explicitly prohibits holding elections.

Zelenskiy, whose five-year-mandate would have ended last May, has not said whether he will run again. This is not his focus, he says.

Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, says Zelenskiy is not a legitimate leader in a position to negotiate because no election has been held.

In Ukraine, even those who say they disapprove of Zelenskiy's record largely see him as the legitimate leader, said Anton Hrushetskyi, director of the Kyiv-based KIIS survey centre.

A Ukrainian government official told Reuters that Putin was trying to create a false pretext to avoid talks. Ukraine wants to hold elections but it is impossible during a full-scale war, the official said.

Zelenskiy's public trust rating is above 50%, according to opinion polls, although it has dropped since Russia's Feb. 24, 2022 invasion, when it rose to over 90% as Ukrainians rallied around the flag.

The elephant in the room for some observers is Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, who led the armed forces for two years after that invasion before being replaced and named ambassador to London.

Some lawmakers have asked whether Zaluzhnyi could be co-opted by an established political force and run for president.

Ukraine's London embassy did not respond to a written request for comment.

Zaluzhnyi has publicly voiced no political ambition but polls suggest he is popular. Zaluzhnyi's image is all over bookstores in Kyiv, where thousands of copies of his new book "My War" have been sold.

Hrushetskyi said gauging the public's political preferences during the war was difficult, especially when it was not known who would run in an election.

Polls show the public broadly against holding elections until the war is over, Hrushetskyi added.

"For the majority, the priority is to achieve success in the war, and then hold elections," he said.

RT/Reuters

You must have heard this axiom at some point your life, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” If you did not hear it as a child, you must have heard it as an adult. Even now, many can see their school teachers in their mind’s eye restating this axiom. Its veracity was not in dispute then, and I do not think many have bothered to find out whether or not it is true. We somewhat believe that if we can eat at least an apple a day, then we will not have any business with the doctor.

The truth is that apple is one of the most consumed fruits around the world. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Its reasonable affordability and wide availability, especially in regions with temperate climates, has made it a staple in many diets.

One of the reasons apples are touted as a wonder fruit is that it is abundant in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids like quercetin and catechin. These compounds help protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and certain types of cancer. Apples are equally a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre helps lower cholesterol levels, while insoluble fibre aids in digestion and promotes regularity.

Apples also provide a decent amount of vitamin C, which supports immune function and collagen production, and contains potassium, which is essential for heart health and blood pressure regulation. The fact that apples are relatively low in calories and high in fibre makes them a satisfying and filling snack. Including apples in one’s diet, can help especially those watching their weight feel full and reduce overall calorie intake, thus aiding in weight management.

Although an apple a day might not, in reality, completely keep doctors at bay, incorporating it into a balanced diet can significantly contribute to overall health and well-being. The axiom “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” therefore serves as an allegorical statement that reminds us of the importance of incorporating fruits like apples into our daily diets. It reminds us in some way of the need for a healthy, balanced diet.

You can therefore imagine my shock when I went out recently to pick up some fruits for the house (something I had not done in a while), and my eyes fell on the apples. I was taken aback when the seller told me an apple was N500. That, I thought, was the joke of the year. How can an apple that sold for N200 in the recent past be selling for N500? I thought it was either the seller wanted to cheat me or things were much more expensive in that place, as we had only recently temporarily moved there. How can apples be more expensive in this place than in Lagos? I asked. The seller had no idea how much apples were selling for in Lagos, so he simply reiterated the fact that it was N500 for one.

I lamented to my wife and other family members when I got home, but they all reminded me that I had no idea of the current price of apples even in Lagos. This happened in December last year, less than two months ago. Today, the price of the same size of apple has gone up to N700. Some are even selling it for N800 or N900. An average Nigerian can simply no longer afford an apple a day.

Now, this is not just about apples anymore, as the prices of other fruits have similarly gone up. The big size of cucumber that sold for N200 in the not-too-distant past now sells for N700. And oranges? They have suddenly become four for N500, instead of the 10 for N500 in the recent past. It is unimaginable that prices can change so drastically, and so dramatically, within a few months in spite of the many assurances by the government and its top officials that things have started looking up.

And what can be said of apples and other fruits can also be said of every food item: prices have gone irretrievably beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. Worst hit are those who have been advised by their doctors to avoid certain foods. Many who had embraced healthy living as part of the solution to their health challenges (or as a pre-emptive measure) are suddenly falling back on whatever they can find to eat. They know this is not good for their health, but they would rather eat and at least stay alive, while they watch their health deteriorate.

The government therefore needs to urgently tweak its strategies with a view to tackling the problem of skyrocketing food (and fruit) prices which, from every indication, are not showing any signs of slowing down. Throwing handouts at some people every now and then is not the solution to the current hardship and deprivation experienced by the vast majority of Nigerians.

Governments at all levels — federal, state and local — should be involved in seeking a lasting solution to this gargantuan problem. After all, only the living and healthy can enjoy the bright future which the government has promised the Nigerian people, and keeps promising.

Gili Malinsky

During her 15 years at Microsoft, "I was looking at thousands of resumes a year," says Sabina Nawaz.

Nawaz, who served in roles such as Director of Human Resources, eventually left to start an executive coaching company where she's been working with senior leaders. She has a book coming out in March, "You're the Boss," about how to be a good manager.

Among the resume red flags she suggests job seekers avoid are general statements that give no sense of what the candidate did in previous positions.

And here are two of her top job interview red flags.

1. Not getting the basics right

Many jobseekers have a hard time adhering to the parameters of the job interview. "I cannot tell you the number of people who simply don't get the basics right," says Nawaz.

Those could include:

• Being on time for the interview
• Making sure your camera and audio are working correctly
• Making sure you have researched the people and organization you're interviewing with
• Dressing appropriately
• Following up with a "thank you" note

These mistakes can come off as inconsiderate or disrespectful of your prospective employer's time. They can also give a negative impression of "how you show up at work," she says.

2. Not highlighting your positives

By "not outlining your strengths in the best way possible," she says, you'll miss an important opportunity.

The job interview is a chance to flesh out what you can do as a worker with in-depth examples. When Nawaz works with her clients, she tells them to find 20 to 30 anecdotes of projects or experiences that "they're proud of the results and they enjoyed doing," she says. These can be drawn from both personal and professional lives.

Once they've identified those achievements, she has her clients look for patterns: What strengths do those anecdotes highlight? Pick out the ones most relevant to the job, she says, and reframe them within a story that's half about the problem and then half about the resolution.

If you can deliver these stories correctly in an interview, you end up "looking like a hero," she says.

CNBC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported a significant decline in internet subscribers to 139.28 million in December 2024, down 15% from 163.83 million in December 2023. This sharp decrease appears to coincide with Nigeria's deepening cost of living crisis, as many citizens struggle to afford basic telecommunications services.

Economic Context

The reduction in internet subscriptions reflects the broader economic challenges facing Nigerian consumers. The removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, combined with rapid currency devaluation and soaring inflation, has severely impacted household purchasing power. Many Nigerians have been forced to prioritize essential needs like food and housing over telecommunications services, leading to dropped subscriptions or reduced data usage.

Telecom Provider Performance

The economic hardship has affected telecom providers differently:

- MTN Nigeria reached 72.22 million subscribers, adding 1.56 million year-over-year despite the challenges

- Airtel grew to 47.41 million, gaining 2.34 million subscribers

- Globacom experienced a dramatic decline to 17 million, losing 26.92 million subscribers

- 9mobile dropped to 2.06 million, down 1.56 million

The stark contrast in performance suggests that consumers may be consolidating their subscriptions to larger providers offering better value propositions during these difficult economic times.

Overall Telecommunications Landscape

Total telephony services subscribers decreased to 164.9 million in December 2024 from 224.7 million the previous year, a decline of 59.7 million users. Market share distribution showed:

- MTN: 84.6 million subscribers

- Airtel: 56.61 million

- Globacom: 20.13 million

- 9mobile: 3.23 million

Technology and Infrastructure

Despite the economic challenges, some positive trends emerged:

- Broadband penetration increased to 44.43% in December 2024

- Data usage grew to 973,455.35 terabytes, up from 713,200.6 terabytes in December 2023

- Technology usage breakdown:

  - 4G: 47.2%

  - 3G: 8.75%

  - 5G: 2.46%

This increase in data usage among remaining subscribers suggests that while many Nigerians have had to cut back on multiple subscriptions, those who maintain their internet access are consuming more data, possibly due to increased reliance on digital services for work, education, and communication.

The contrasting trends of decreased subscriptions but increased data usage per subscriber highlight the complex relationship between economic hardship and digital connectivity in Nigeria.

The federal government, through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has announced a strict ban on the export of crude oil allocated for domestic refineries, aiming to boost local refining capacity and reduce pressure on foreign exchange. The move comes as approximately 500,000 barrels per day meant for domestic refining have reportedly been diverted to international markets.

New Regulatory Measures

In a letter dated February 2, 2025, NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe warned that the commission will deny export permits for crude oil cargoes intended for domestic refining. Any changes to designated cargoes must receive express approval from the Commission Chief Executive, with violations being treated as breaches of national law under Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Industry Tensions

At a recent meeting attended by over 50 industry players, refiners and producers traded accusations over implementation failures of the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) policy:

- Refiners claimed producers preferred international sales over meeting domestic supply terms

- Producers countered that refiners failed to meet commercial and operational standards

Refinery Requirements

The NUPRC revealed that eight domestic refineries require 770,500 barrels per day for processing in the first half of 2025, representing 37% of the forecasted daily production of 2,066,940 barrels. Key refinery allocations include:

- Dangote Petroleum Refinery: 550,000 bpd

- Warri Refinery: 75,000 bpd

- Kaduna Refinery: 66,000 bpd

- Port Harcourt Refinery: 60,000 bpd

- Smaller refineries (including OPAC, WalterSmith, Duport Midstream, Edo, and Aradel): Combined allocation of 19,500 bpd

Enforcement Actions

The commission has implemented several measures to ensure compliance:

- Development of Production Curtailment and Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Regulation 2023

- Creation of DCSO framework and procedure guide

- Support for the Naira-for-Crude programme, enabling local refineries to purchase crude oil in naira

The initiative aligns with Nigeria's broader strategy to strengthen energy security, boost domestic refining capacity, and reduce dependence on imported refined products. The NUPRC expressed confidence in meeting these targets, citing the success of its Project One Million Barrels launched in October 2024, which has increased the nation's crude production capacity.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to reinstate 24-hour cargo clearance as part of its ongoing modernisation initiative, codenamed B’Odogwu.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Apapa on Monday, the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in charge of ICT and Modernisation, K.I. Adeola, highlighted the project’s transformative potential for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

The B’Odogwu project, approved in May 2022 and ratified by the Federal Executive Council in April 2023, is structured as a 20-year public-private partnership (PPP) between the NCS and the Trade Modernisation Project unit.

Adeola stressed that the initiative goes beyond technological deployment, aiming to build a comprehensive system that enhances trade facilitation and boosts revenue generation.

Arab nations oppose removing Palestinians from Gaza in letter to US

Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposing plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, as suggested by President Donald Trump in late January.

The letter was sent on Monday and signed by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh. It was reported first by Axios, which said the top diplomats met in Cairo over the weekend.

Trump first floated the suggestion of Jordan and Egypt taking in Palestinians from Gaza on Jan. 25. When asked if he was suggesting that as a long-term or short-term solution, the president said: "Could be either."

The U.S. president's comments echoed long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes and were labeled as a proposal of ethnic cleansing by critics. Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations opposed the proposal.

"Reconstruction in Gaza should be through direct engagement with and participation of the people of Gaza. Palestinians will live in their land and help rebuild it," the letter said.

"And they should not be stripped of their agency during reconstruction as they must take ownership of the process with the support of the international community."

Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The fighting has currently paused amid a fragile ceasefire.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

US arms shipments to Kyiv briefly paused before resuming over weekend, sources say

U.S. shipments of weapons into Ukraine were briefly paused in recent days before resuming over the weekend as the Trump administration debated its policy towards Kyiv, according to four people briefed on the matter.

Shipments restarted after the White House pulled back on its initial assessment to stop all aid to Ukraine, two of the sources said.

There are factions inside the administration that are at odds over the extent to which the U.S. should continue to aid Kyiv's war effort with weapons from U.S. stocks, said one of the people, a U.S. official.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Halting the flow of U.S. weapons would hinder Kyiv's ability to fight, and put it in a less advantaged negotiation position in peace talks.

It is unclear if the Trump administration will formally acknowledge the pause and subsequent resumption of shipments.

In his final months in office, Biden approved on average more than $1 billion in U.S. weapons pulled from U.S. stocks for Ukraine. Even more if new contracts for future production are included.

Ukraine weapons assistance from the U.S. has been facilitated in part through the use of Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the President to quickly transfer weapons and equipment from U.S. stocks to foreign countries without the need for congressional approval.

Since Donald Trump took office, no packages have been announced, but shipments authorized by Joe Biden were thought to continue to flow - and would for months - due to the backlog.

The revelation of the brief pause is the first outward sign of the intensity of the debate within the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has not sent a clear message on whether it will continue to provide significant military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion.

Since the start of the conflict, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of military aid, including artillery systems, ammunition, and anti-tank missiles.

U.S. assistance has had a significant impact on the conflict, with Ukrainian forces using the equipment to inflict significant losses on Russian troops and equipment.

The drawdown of U.S. stocks has also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the U.S.'s military aid efforts.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

No progress in organizing Putin-Trump meeting — Kremlin spokesman

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that there was no new information regarding a potential meeting between Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

"Before discussing a venue for such a meeting we must first determine what the meeting will be all about. There is no news on that front," the Kremlin spokesman told RBC.

He made these comments in response to a Reuters report indicating that the Russian side was considering the UAE and Saudi Arabia as possible venues for talks between Putin and Trump.

Reuters/Tass

It is quite a relief to be back here after so many years of absence. It used to be that one would not countenance any other thing until one had submitted the writing for the week until the urge started going down and one could as well miss one or two installment(s) and not feel too bad or weighed down. And now we are reviving and resuscitating the column again, hopefully with the necessary impetus and enthusiasm to sustain it for the (un)foreseeable future. It shows that life has its many phases and reflections and we have to not just live with that reality, but have to acknowledge its place in human life and action, being responsible for and representing the ups and downs and vicissitudes of life. That would perhaps be the reason why most Scriptures talk about life in terms of time and phases, with different times for different things under the sun - a time to talk, and a time for silence; a time for merriment, and a time for sorrow! What is important is to recognize the changing phases and respond appropriately, not insisting on continuing with whatever is on-going even when circumstances change and have called for a new direction.

To be sure, the changing nature of things is not necessarily a bad thing as it also affords a sense of pausing to take in assessment and be able to evaluate properly with a view to having the chance and possibility of changing direction if needed. In the instant case, I must report that I have been blessed and privileged to have experienced growth and development along the way; there have been high turns, low turns and average turns to mark the changing contours of life and the changing times defining the narratives and narrations. We take in more insights, reflect more, with all of this serving as necessary and dutiful experiences of life.

Maturity comes along the way, and that counts for much. Language and sentences construction would become more sober and methodical as against the ‘break the barrier’ extravagance of the younger days. How could we forget the series on the Interim National Government (ING) of Ernest Sonekan which did not end until that unfortunate contraption was done away with. It was just impossible to want to accept and live with the ignominy of playing games with the destinies and lives of Nigerians. A few and/or many thought such unfortunate situation could be exploited for persona gains and profit, but it was neither here nor there as what was uppermost was the pursuit of the truth and the need to protect the truth template for the society. This has always been the guardrail for the column and it is important to say that this cornerstone will not change no matter the phase or the time.

Discourse reflects and represents and is a testament to that commitment to place intellect at the service of the society and the people. It is a platform for the constant critical engagement with every and any issue confronting society and bordering on the need and desire for the pursuit of truth and catering to the welfare of the greater number/mass of the people. It is a timeless commitment and adventure that is also conscious of the place of time and life phases in its rendition. It offers critical but modulated and well considered insights on public issues to the advantage of all. I must state how excited I am to be starting this new phase of the column at this time that has been long in coming, which phase and time represent and reflect the fact that many things are beyond us as humans and happen only at the pleasure of God as the overall Sovereign. I do not take it for granted, even as I considered it a privilege, to have the opportunity of a public intellectual interactive platform of engagement. I therefore look forward to such critical and mutually beneficial interaction here as I welcome you all to yet another iteration of the column in its new phase and time element all to the Glory of God.

As we go on this exciting journey, one thing would be certain and constant - my commitment to the truth and its pursuit would be unyielding!

** Olaitan, Professor of Political Science, was Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

As someone who regularly attends networking events, I get asked, "What do you do?” multiple times a month. In my experience, either you sound like you're too full of yourself or you sound boring.
Global communication expert Jessica Chen says she has a formula for answering the question in a creative way.
“Over time, I’ve discovered that the key — and often missing — ingredient for better small talk is relatability,” she says. Instead of just saying a job title, you should say, “You know how [talk about issues you solve]? So what I do is [share the solutions you offer]. In fact, [drop some proof].”
Simply naming your company and job title isn’t much of a conversation starter, she says, but asking a rhetorical question referencing a common problem helps paint a picture for others. For example: “You know how cyberattacks are getting more frequent and sophisticated?” 
Afterward, briefly explain how you solve that problem without using too much jargon, like: “What I do is create software systems that alert companies when a suspicious user tries to access their platform.”
Then finish your response with some added context. This is where you can use company names, numbers, or a story to tie it all together, Chen says. For instance, you could say: “In fact, our organization is one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world with clients like [well-known company].” 
Though I typically hate being asked “What do you do?” maybe Chen’s formula will help me dread it a bit less, and foster some real, genuine conversation.

CNBC