Author: Anadolu Agency
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not taking Türkiye-hosted peace negotiations seriously, following developments in talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. Speaking to reporters in Albania, Starmer criticized Putin’s refusal to attend the talks, claiming it showed a lack of commitment to resolving the conflict. “Well, I think that what we saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace. He’s been dragging his heels, and I think it’s really important, therefore, that we have absolute unity with our allies,” he said. Starmer emphasized the importance…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for skipping direct peace talks in Türkiye. During his address at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Tirana on Friday, Zelensky expressed frustration over what he described as a missed opportunity to take meaningful steps toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Türkiye is hosting the Russia-Ukraine peace talks on May 15-16 in the Dolmabahçe Presidential Working Office in Istanbul. “This week, we had a real chance to take important steps toward ending this war, if only Putin had not been afraid to come to Türkiye,” Zelensky said. “I was…
The sixth European Political Community (EPC) summit began on Friday in Albania. A total of 47 heads of state or government as well as EU institutions are attending the summit in the capital Tirana. Among those attending are Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. From international groups or organizations, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and Council of Europe Secretary…
A senior political leader in Hamas has reiterated that they are ready to “hand over all the prisoners immediately” if such a move would bring an end to the ongoing war. Basem Naim, said he thinks US President Donald Trump “can do it if he exercises enough pressure on the Israelis to end this war immediately,” adding that Trump “has the capability and the will to reach this peaceful situation.” “We are ready to cooperate with him to achieve this goal of a more peaceful region,” he told Sky News. He stressed that Gaza and Gazans are deserving, like all…
France will file a complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice for what it says is a violation of its obligation to grant consular protection to French nationals detained in Iran, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday. “Today, I am filing a complaint before the International Court of Justice against Iran for violating its obligation to grant the right to consular protection,” Barrot said in an interview with France 2 television. Barrot said two French citizens detained in Iran for three years had been “deprived of” visits from embassy representatives. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher, and her…
Three US Senate Democrats on Friday voiced concern over the Donald Trump administration’s tariff policy, warning that it is hurting American security interests. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed and Mark Warner sent a letter to Trump to raise concern about the policy. “We are writing to express our deep concern over your Administration’s tariff policy and its harmful impact on U.S. national security,” wrote senators in the letter. They warned that tariffs announced this year will cost American households thousands of dollars, increase inflation and undermine longstanding US alliances and partnerships. “We expect Administration officials to speak to the impact…
New York University (NYU) has withheld a student’s diploma after he accused the US of supporting “genocide” in Gaza and condemned Israel’s actions during his graduation speech. Logan Rozos, an undergraduate speaker from NYU, said in his speech: “The only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine.” He further said that the ongoing genocide in Gaza “is supported politically and militarily by the United States.” An NYU spokesperson said in a statement that Rozos misled the university about his planned remarks to…
A senior political leader in Hamas has reiterated that they are ready to “hand over all the prisoners immediately” if such a move would bring an end to the ongoing war. Basem Naim, said he thinks US President Donald Trump “can do it if he exercises enough pressure on the Israelis to end this war immediately,” adding that Trump “has the capability and the will to reach this peaceful situation.” “We are ready to cooperate with him to achieve this goal of a more peaceful region,” he told Sky News. He stressed that Gaza and Gazans are deserving, like all…
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky, also an advisor to President Vladimir Putin, said on Friday that Moscow was satisfied with the results of the peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Medinsky said that as a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners. “On the whole, we are satisfied with the results and are ready to continue contacts. We have agreed on three things. First, in the coming days, there will be a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, 1,000 for 1,000 people,” Medinsky said. The Ukrainian side…
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday that a new geopolitical order is taking shape, placing Türkiye at its center amid shifting global dynamics and changing regional power balances. “Our world is changing, the old order is crumbling, a brand-new equation is being established in our region with Türkiye at its center,” Erdoğan said at the Organization Academy Leadership School in Ankara. Erdoğan also noted that he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his delegation at the presidential complex in Ankara, where they discussed efforts to end the war in Ukraine. “We discussed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war with a…