Author: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that a 26-year-old fighter pilot was killed during a combat mission involving an F-16 fighter jet, expressing condolences to the family and comrades of Capt. Pavlo Ivanov. Zelenskyy said the military is investigating all aspects of the circumstances of the incident. “Our F-16s, Mirages, MiGs, and the entire combat aviation are heroically executing military missions to defend our state and support ground operations,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. He added that Ukraine’s Air Force continues to play a vital role in defending the country from Russian missile and drone attacks. “We are proud…

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said he met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels to discuss joint defense projects and the outcomes of key international meetings supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts. “We summed up the results of the Coalition of the Willing and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein),” Umerov said, adding that both formats remain “effective and essential platforms” for coordinating international aid. He noted that Ukraine is preparing proposals for joint defense production with EU member states, emphasizing research and development (R&D) as a priority. “Technological advantage is one of the keys to our resilience,” he…

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said he met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels to discuss joint defense projects and the outcomes of key international meetings supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts. “We summed up the results of the Coalition of the Willing and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein),” Umerov said, adding that both formats remain “effective and essential platforms” for coordinating international aid. He noted that Ukraine is preparing proposals for joint defense production with EU member states, emphasizing research and development (R&D) as a priority. “Technological advantage is one of the keys to our resilience,” he…

The North African nation of Sudan has officially recognized Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, the Balkan nation’s president, said Saturday. “Sudan has recognized the Republic of Kosovo, and the two countries have agreed to establish diplomatic relations,” Osmani said in a social media video after meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousif on the sidelines of Türkiye’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF). Expressing her gratitude for Sudan’s move, Osmani said: “We extend our deepest thanks to (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan for making this impactful day happen for all of us, for our nations, at ADF.” Yousif underlined that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the…

Over 60,000 children under the age of 6 in Gaza are facing malnutrition, according to the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process. Speaking to Anadolu at Türkiye’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), Sigrid Kaag said the humanitarian aid sent to the region through the UN during the Jan. 19 ceasefire reached those in need without any problems, but that since March 2, “aid has not been allowed in.” Kaag also said the equipment needed by aid workers in the region to do their work is insufficient and the fuel needed to run hospitals has run out, adding that…

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani praised Türkiye’s continued support for her country during her speech at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) on Friday. “I thank President Erdoğan for his personal engagement since when he was prime minister in making sure that more and more nations around the world recognize our struggle for freedom and our right in independence,” Osmani said, speaking as a panelist at the “ADFTalks” session. Erdoğan personally shows his support to us at every opportunity, she added during the session which was moderated by TRT World’s Andrew Hopkins, also highlighting the importance of international cooperation. “Through their (the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday began a meeting about Ukraine with US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, according to a statement from the Kremlin. Witkoff arrived in the morning at Pulkovo Airport and earlier in the day, met with Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. This marks Witkoff’s third visit to Russia and the previous trip took place on March 13 in Moscow, where he met senior Russian officials before being received by Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said that Witkoff delivered additional information on Ukraine during the March talks, and that…

Nearly 50 people have been killed in India and Nepal due to lightning strikes, hailstorms, and heavy rain, local media reported on Friday. At least 25 people were killed in various areas of the eastern Indian state of Bihar on Thursday when the region was hit by lightning strikes and hailstorms, the PTI news agency reported. The state’s chief minister office also confirmed the death toll in a statement, but former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed that more than twice that number had lost their lives. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people…

Finance and central bank officials from China, Japan, South Korea, and other regional countries met this week and discussed the impact of US tariffs on the global and regional macroeconomic situation, according to a statement from China’s central bank on Friday. Xuan Changneng, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, attended the regular meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the finance and central bank deputy heads of China, Japan, and South Korea on April 8-9 in Malaysia, according to the statement. “The meeting discussed the impact of U.S. tariffs on the global and regional economic outlook,…

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced Friday that Norway will provide €7 billion ($7.9 billion) in military aid to Ukraine in 2025, following a meeting with Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik. Umerov said the fresh pledge includes an additional €5 billion in security support and praised Oslo’s commitment. “Together, we analyzed the most effective ways to direct these funds to strengthen Ukraine’s Defense Forces,” he wrote on X. Equipping Ukrainian units with modern strike systems, armored vehicles, and advanced technologies is among the top priorities, according to Umerov. “This is critically important support in light of the current threats,”…