Trump and Putin Discuss Proposal... Asset and Land Division the Focus of Upcoming Talks
The crisis in the Kursk region emerges as a critical pressure factor on the Ukrainian side, with ongoing leadership changes in the Ukrainian army in response to accelerating field developments on the
March 17, 2025, 9:56 pm

Trump and Putin Discuss Proposal... Asset and Land Division the Focus of Upcoming Talks

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US President Donald Trump said early Monday that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, adding: "We may announce something about Russia and Ukraine tomorrow."

Trump told reporters - aboard the presidential plane during a return flight to Washington from Florida - about "dividing some assets" between Russia and Ukraine, indicating that land and power stations will be the focus of the agreement between Russia and Ukraine, explaining: "A lot of work has been done over the weekend... we want to see an end to this war."

The American president added: "We want to see if we can end that war, maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance."

When asked about the concessions being considered in the ceasefire negotiations, Trump stated "We will talk about the land, we will talk about power plants," adding: "I think a lot of these things have already been discussed extensively between the parties, Ukraine and Russia, we are already talking about dividing some assets."

Later on Monday, the Kremlin confirmed that President Putin will speak by phone with his American counterpart Donald Trump.

Trump is seeking Putin's support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal accepted by Ukraine last week, while both sides continued to exchange intensive airstrikes at the beginning of the week, and Russia approached expelling Ukrainian forces from the area it has controlled for months in Kursk, western Russia.

Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin for several hours days ago, told CNN on Sunday that he believes "the two presidents will have a good and positive discussion this week."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described his phone call with his Russian counterpart as "promising," in a statement Sunday morning to CBS.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday accused the Kremlin of not wanting to end the war, warning that the Russians "want to improve their position on the battlefield" before any potential ceasefire.

In response to the ceasefire proposal, Putin expressed that this initiative would be beneficial to Ukraine first and not the Russian forces that are "advancing" in many areas, and raised "serious questions" about the initiative.

Zelensky considered that Putin, by not agreeing to the ceasefire, was also against Trump who presented initiatives toward Russia, accusing Moscow of trying to find ways not to end the war. Zelensky accused Putin of "lying."

Coinciding with these developments, Zelensky replaced the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, according to a decree issued Sunday, where Anatoly Bargilevich was dismissed and Andrey Gnatov was appointed in his place, who was tasked with increasing the "effectiveness of vertical management" of forces and strengthening the "implementation" of decisions of the supreme command.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.