Ayoola Atitebi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed placing Ukraine temporarily under UN control to elect a "more competent" government, marking another attempt to challenge Kyiv's legitimacy. Ukraine swiftly rejected the suggestion as a "crazy" idea designed to delay peace negotiations. The proposal emerged as the United States seeks to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, now entering its fourth year. Speaking to a nuclear submarine crew in Murmansk, Putin suggested a temporary UN administration could facilitate democratic elections and bring a government "trusted by the people" to power. He proposed discussing this approach with the United States, European countries, and Russia's partners. Moscow argues that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is illegitimate, claiming he has remained in power beyond his term. However, Zelensky's extended tenure is legally justified by martial law and the practical challenges of holding elections during wartime, with […]

Russia has indicated that Western sanctions must be partially lifted before implementing a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine, complicating recent peace negotiations. Hours after the US announced separate deals halting strikes in the Black Sea, the Kremlin outlined specific conditions, including revoking sanctions on state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and restoring Swift international payment system access for Russian financial institutions. Simultaneously, Moscow launched a drone attack on Mykolaiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky interpreting this as a clear signal of Russia's reluctance for peace. The EU and its allies had originally suspended Russian banks' Swift access to disrupt payments for energy and agricultural exports. Reversing these sanctions would require EU approval, which appears uncertain given recent statements supporting Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested Russia might be attempting to delay ending the war, stating, "I think that Russia wants to see an […]

Chinese state media has welcomed Donald Trump's decision to cut funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, news outlets known for reporting on authoritarian regimes. The executive order has affected thousands of employees, with approximately 1,300 staff at Voice Of America (VOA) placed on paid leave since Friday. While critics call it a setback for democracy, Beijing's state newspaper Global Times condemned VOA for its "appalling track record" in reporting on China, saying it has "now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag." The White House defended the action, stating it will "ensure that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda." Trump's cuts target the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which receives congressional funding and supports news outlets including VOA, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe. These organizations have […]