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Escalating Tension Between Washington and Moscow Over Ukraine's Future
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Russia's hardline position and its rejection of the ceasefire plan and insistence on Zelensky's resignation reveal increasing complexities in the settlement path and Moscow's adherence to its field ga

The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor, Serhiy Leshchenko, revealed on Monday that the proposed agreement with the United States regarding the exploitation of rare mineral resources contradicts the conditions for Ukraine's integration into the European Union and its constitution, but indicated it could be accepted after modifications.
These statements come amid a notable escalation in American pressure on Kyiv to conclude an agreement that allows Washington to benefit from Ukrainian mineral wealth.
During a live television interview on "Rada" channel, Leshchenko explained: "The agreement may seem unacceptable to us. The government and the Ministry of Justice are working within its framework, but everything that contradicts the constitution and contradicts European integration can be transformed into a normal project for Ukraine."
The Ukrainian official hinted at the need to consider that the agreement proposed by US President Donald Trump's administration regarding subsurface resources "will remain for a long time," necessitating careful study of its implications.
Trump had previously warned while speaking to journalists aboard the presidential plane that Zelensky would face "big problems" if he backed away from concluding an agreement allowing the United States to exploit Ukrainian minerals.
The American president's threats came in the context of escalating tension, as he criticized both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, expressing his frustration with the continued stalling of efforts to resume ceasefire talks.
Initially, Trump expressed his extreme anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening to impose new tariffs on Russian oil in response to Putin's questioning of the Ukrainian president's future as a leader.
NBC presenter Kristen Welker explained on "Meet the Press" that Trump warned in a phone conversation with her, saying: "If Russia and I cannot reach an agreement to stop the bloodbath in Ukraine, and if I see that it was Russia's fault, I will impose secondary tariffs on oil coming out of Russia."
While Trump began by criticizing Putin, he quickly softened his tone toward him to pour his anger on Zelensky, warning him of facing problems if he backed away from concluding an agreement giving the United States mining rights in Ukraine.
Since taking office, the US president has sought to achieve a quick end to the war that has been ongoing for more than three years in Ukraine, but his administration has not yet succeeded in achieving a breakthrough.
Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian plan for a 30-day ceasefire and suggested on Friday that Zelensky should step down as part of the peace process, reflecting a harder stance in Moscow's negotiating position and angering Kyiv.
Trump told NBC that Putin knows he is angry, while indicating at the same time that "he has a very good relationship with him," explaining that "anger dissipates quickly... if he does the right thing."
Improved relations between Washington and Moscow since Trump took office, and his threat to stop supporting Kyiv, have strengthened Russia's position on the battlefield as it continues its faltering invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv accuses Moscow of prolonging talks without a genuine intention to stop the war, especially as it launched a new attack over the weekend on the city of Kharkiv, located on the northeastern border.
Ukrainian areas were targeted by six strikes Saturday night into Sunday, resulting in one person being injured while being treated at a military hospital and at least two people killed in a residential building, according to Ukrainian officials.
Moscow announced on Sunday that its forces had taken control of a village just seven kilometers from the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, as part of its recent advance, noting that Russian forces had not crossed the borders of this region since the beginning of its attack in 2022.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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