Latest news with #Erdogan
CNA
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Ukraine calls for Zelenskyy-Putin talks as Russia proposes brief truces
ISTANBUL: Ukraine on Wednesday (Jul 23) called for direct talks between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of August, even as Russia downplayed the chances of a breakthrough in the latest round of negotiations held in Istanbul. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said Kyiv had proposed a leaders' summit involving both presidents, as well as US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Priority number one is to organise the meeting of the leaders, of presidents," Umerov said. Russia's lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said the parties held lengthy discussions but remained far apart on key issues. 'The positions are quite distant. We agreed to continue contacts,' he told reporters. Medinsky said both sides had agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war and that Russia had offered to return the bodies of 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers. He also proposed temporary ceasefires lasting 24 to 48 hours to allow the recovery of dead and wounded soldiers. TURKEY URGES CEASEFIRE, US SETS DEADLINE Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who opened the talks, urged the delegations to move toward a ceasefire. 'Our aim is to end this bloody war, which has a very high cost, as soon as possible,' he said. 'The ultimate goal is a ceasefire that will pave the way for peace.' The talks follow earlier meetings in Istanbul in May and June, which yielded agreements on prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of soldiers' remains. The latest negotiations come as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Russia. Last week, Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to end the war or face additional sanctions. Despite the ultimatum, the Kremlin signaled no change in stance. "No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A Ukrainian delegation source told AFP before the talks that progress would depend on whether Russia adopted a more constructive approach. 'Everything will depend on whether Russia stops speaking in ultimatums,' the source said. Russia has so far insisted Ukraine withdraw from four eastern and southern regions it claims to have annexed in 2022, a demand Kyiv rejects as non-negotiable. Ukraine has also ruled out any territorial concessions, including Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. WAR CONTINUES AS TALKS STALL Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and devastated large areas of the country. Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, fighting has intensified in recent weeks. Between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russian forces launched 71 drones across four regions of Ukraine, according to Kyiv's air force. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have captured the village of Varachyne in northern Sumy region, where Moscow has been steadily advancing.
Rudaw Net
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Ten dead in western Turkey wildfires
Also in Turkey DEM Party rebukes call by Erdogan's ally to dissolve Erdogan commends Ocalan's support for peace process Erdogan will not seek Turkey-Iraq oil export deal renewal: Gazette PKK says no more disarmament until Ankara enacts reforms A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least ten forest workers were killed on Wednesday while fighting forest fires in western Turkey's Eskisehir province, authorities said. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said that five forestry workers and five rescuers were killed after being 'unfortunately trapped in the fire when a sudden change in wind fanned the flames toward them.' 'The very high temperatures, high winds, and low humidity have made this no longer a simple forest fire. We have lost 10 of our dear brothers and sisters. I have nothing more to say. My condolences to our nation,' he added. At least 11 'major' forest fires, including nine that broke out on Wednesday, are currently being battled by Turkish authorities and forestry workers, according to the minister. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences to the families of the victims. 'I pray for God's mercy upon our brothers and sisters who are fighting at the expense of their lives to protect our forests, and offer my condolences to their families and our nation,' Erdogan said. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc later announced that an investigation has been launched into the deadly incident. Turkey has been hit by a flurry of wildfires recently, which are commonplace in summertime.
Rudaw Net
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey says SDF must prove commitment to integration deal with Damascus
Also in Middle East Turkey accuses Israel of trying to 'divide Syria,' vows to intervene Iraq says Turkey ready to renew, expand oil export deal PKK disarmament could be completed within four months: Kurdish lawmaker Sudani, Erdogan discuss Ankara-PKK peace talks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should demonstrate that they are committed to the March agreement with Damascus regarding its integration into the interim government's security apparatus, Turkish state media cited Ankara's defense sources as saying. SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a landmark agreement on March 10 concerning the future of the SDF and the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava). While parts of the agreement have already been implemented, key provisions - such as the integration of the US-backed SDF into Syrian state forces - continue to face significant obstacles. 'The SDF terrorist organization must concretely demonstrate that it is complying with the agreement it made with the Damascus government. Developments regarding this issue are being closely monitored together with our relevant institutions,' Turkish national defence sources told journalists during a weekly press briefing, reported Turkey's state-run TRT Haber on Wednesday. Ankara has endorsed the March 10 agreement but has repeatedly called on the SDF to abide by it. Middle East Eye reported on Monday that the US and Turkey have given the SDF a 30-day ultimatum to integrate into Damascus forces. However, the SDF denied the claim. An SDF spokesperson told the Saudi-based Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that they do refuse to lay down arms for now. 'We can join the Syrian army through a constitutional and legal agreement that recognizes the specificity of our forces,' Abjar Dawoud said, adding that they refuse to 'surrender' weapons 'in light of the increase in the pace of violence' in southern Syria - where days of recent clashes left nearly 1,300 people dead, according to a war monitor. He stressed it is 'impossible' for the SDF to hand over its weapons while the Islamic State (ISIS) continues to pose a threat to northeast Syria. The SDF is the de facto army of Rojava.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Russian delegation heads to Turkey for peace talks
Published July 23rd, 2025 - 09:14 GMT ALBAWABA - A Russian delegation left Moscow towards Turkey to attend the third round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russian news agencies said on Wednesday. Also Read Zelensky's anti-corruption bill trigger protests in Kyiv "The plane with the Russian delegation has left Moscow for Istanbul," a source told the state RIA news agency. Earlier, two peace talks were held between Russian and Ukrainian delegations who met in Turkey in a bid to find a solution and end over three years of war between Moscow and Kyiv, which started in February 2022. According to RT, the talks are expected to be held at 19:00 Istanbul time. Russian delegation en route to Istanbul — RT correspondentThe city is already preparing for the Russia-Ukraine negotiations The talks are scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time, per Erdogan's administration — RT (@RT_com) July 23, 2025 © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Erdogan's Key Ally Proposes Vice Presidency for Minorities
(Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top political ally has proposed senior government positions to be held by the country's Kurdish and Alevi minorities in a surprise statement. Devlet Bahceli, chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, raised the suggestion in a closed-door party meeting on July 18, according to a statement from his party on Monday. A potential outreach from the MHP — an informal coalition partner of Erdogan's ruling AK Party — is significant, as the party has typically pursued an ultra-nationalist ideology. Until two years ago, Erdogan drew attention to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu's Alevi background and also claimed that the CHP had links to the Kurdish separatist group PKK, in an effort to rally nationalist and religious voters. Alevis are a religious minority in Turkey who follow a distinct interpretation of Islam, with beliefs and rituals that differ from those of the Sunni majority. Turkey currently has one vice president who's appointed by the president. Bahceli's proposal is part of his broader efforts of what he calls to create 'a terror-free' state as he's softened his rhetoric in past months. That's included encouraging the government to hold peace talks with PKK, as well with pro-Kurdish DEM with the initial outreach coming from Bahceli. Securing the backing of pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has 56 seats in parliament, could help Erdogan and the MHP reach the threshold needed to change the Constitution, a long-running desire for the president. Some critics say that constitutional amendment is for Erdogan to extend his rule for another term as it's impossible under the current laws. The president has not explicitly expressed his desire to stay in power for more but his top aides and Bahceli have voiced their support. Bahceli, 77, who's built his politics on hardline nationalism surprised observers when he made a peace call to the PKK. The group's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, welcomed the call. Earlier this month, the PKK began laying down its arms, marking the first concrete step toward disarmament since it announced plans to dissolve in May. More stories like this are available on
