Headline

Russia Claims More Ukraine Land As Hopes For Summit Fade

Published

4 months ago

August 23, 2025

Russia on Saturday said its forces had taken two villages in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, increasing the military pressure as world leaders struggle to broker an end to the conflict.

South Africa added its voice to those calling for a summit between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian forces are slowly advancing in the embattled eastern region of Donetsk, grinding closer to Kyiv’s key defensive line in costly metre-for-metre battles.

Moscow’s defence ministry said on Telegram that its forces had captured the villages of Sredneye and Kleban-Byk.

The taking of Kleban-Byk would mark a further advance towards Kostiantynivka — a key fortified town on the road to Kramatorsk, where a major Ukrainian logistics base is located.

On Friday, Russia said its troops had captured three villages in the Donetsk region it claimed to have annexed in September 2022.

On Saturday, Ukrainian military officials said its forces had stopped a Russian advance and recaptured the village of Zeleny Gai in the Donetsk region in a post to Telegram.

In July, Russia claimed the capture of the village, on the border with Dnipropetrovsk, adding that it was an important stronghold used by Ukraine to protect the area.

– Ramaphosa backs summit –
The latest Russian advances come as hopes dim for a summit between Russian and Ukrainian presidents — a solution championed by US President Donald Trump as part of his efforts to end the conflict.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday added his voice to calls for a Russia-Ukraine summit during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“President Ramaphosa stressed the urgency of holding bilateral and trilateral meetings between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine and the United States as key to signal a firm commitment to ending the war,” said a statement from his office.

Ramaphosa, who currently chairs the G20, also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the statement added. He will speak with other European leaders in the coming weeks.

Ramaphosa spoke on Monday with Vladimir Putin, whom he described in October at the BRICS summit as a “dear ally” and a “valued friend”.

However, for the first time since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, South Africa earlier this year backed a UN resolution declaring that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky said he had told Ramaphosa he was ready for any kind of meeting with Putin.

“However, we see that Moscow is once again trying to drag everything out even further,” he said on X.

He called on the Global South to send “relevant signals and (push) Russia toward peace”.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “no meeting” was planned as Trump’s mediation efforts appeared to stall, while Zelensky accused Russia of trying to prolong the offensive.

AFP

Headline

How Our Airstrikes Stopped Christmas Attacks In Nigeria — US Lawmaker

Published

2 days ago

December 27, 2025

Editor

Riley Moore, a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia’s 2nd District, has linked the absence of Christmas attacks in Nigeria this year to US military airstrikes carried out against Islamist militants on Christmas Day.

In a post on his official X account on Saturday, Moore contrasted the situation with the past two Christmas seasons, during which he claimed Christians were killed in attacks across parts of Nigeria.

The lawmaker noted that this year’s response targeted extremist groups instead of marking another period of violence.

He added that US forces acted decisively against militants in coordination with the Nigerian government.

“For the past two Christmases, Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. This year, thanks to @POTUS, Radical Islamic Terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.

“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore wrote.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that American forces had conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in north-western Nigeria.

Trump, who spoke via his Truth Social platform, warned that more attacks would follow if the militants continued killing Christians, adding that the Department of War executed numerous “perfect strikes.”

Headline

U.S. Lawmaker Reacts To Nigeria, U.S. Airstrikes

Published

3 days ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has stated that President Donald Trump is determined to put an end to the killing of Christians in Nigeria, warning that further action may follow if the violence persists.

Moore made the statement on Friday via his official X handle.

According to the lawmaker, the strike represents the first step in addressing what he described as the ongoing slaughter of Christians and the broader security crisis affecting Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.

“President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” he said.

He that the administration’s resolve on the matter should not be underestimated.

“As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump‘s resolved in this matter.

“Tonight’s strike in coordination with the Nigerian government is just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians,” he said.

He stressed that the operation signals a stronger stance by the United States in support of Nigeria’s efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism, noting that further measures could be taken if the situation does not improve.

Headline

US Dept Of War Shares Video Of Air Strikes In Nigeria

Published

3 days ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

A video footage of the US military air strikes in Nigeria has emerged.

The video was released by the US Department of War following its air strikes against terrorists in Sokoto.

Earlier, the US secretary of War, Pete Hegseth had confirmed that military air strikes hit terrorists in Nigerians, saying it was deadly.

Later on, the US. African Command, confirmed that it conducted the attacks described as very deadly by President Donald Trump.

Trump said he was only keeping the promise he made earlier last month to strike the terrorists he believes are killing innocent Christians.

Although described as powerful and deadly, the casualty caused by the attack is yet to be released.

Explaining further, security expert, Brant Philip, said the strikes may have been launched “from the USS Paul Ignatius, using a Tomahawk missile.”

The Nigerian government through its ministry of foreign affairs has also confirmed that the strikes were successful.

Watch video here