Turkey
Turkish philanthropist Kavala jailed for life, activists protest
Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala was jailed for life without parole on Monday after he was convicted of trying to overthrow the government by financing protests, in a case that Europe's top court and Western powers say is politically motivated.
If Turkey was an EU member, Ukraine war might have been prevented, says minister
Turkey's leaders have recently increased talk about their will to return to the negotiating table with Brussels. But what has prompted this new momentum? EURACTIV Slovakia spoke to Faruk Kaymakci, Turkey's deputy minister of foreign affairs and director for EU affairs.
At Istanbul talks Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine
Russia promised at peace talks on Tuesday (29 March) to scale down its military operations around Kyiv and northern Ukraine, while Ukraine proposed adopting a neutral status but with international guarantees that it would be protected from attack.
Ukraine sets ceasefire goal for new Russia talks, but breakthrough looks distant
Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine before dawn on Tuesday (29 March) as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators prepared to meet in Turkey for face-to-face talks, with Kyiv seeking a ceasefire without compromising on territory or sovereignty.
Second Abramovich superyacht docks in sanctions-free Turkey
A second superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich docked in a Turkish resort on Tuesday (22 March) and sources familiar with the discussions said he and other wealthy Russians were looking to invest in Turkey given sanctions elsewhere.
Anti-war Russians in Turkey unite at rap concert for Ukraine
Hundreds of Russians lined up outside an Istanbul club on Tuesday to get a glimpse of Oxxxymiron, a rapper who rattled the Russian celebrity world with bold statements against his country's invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey, Greece agree to improve ties amid Ukraine conflict
Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis agreed in talks on Sunday (13 March) to improve ties, despite the long-running disagreements between the two NATO members, Ankara said.
Turkey hosts first meeting of top Russian, Ukrainian diplomats since invasion
Foreign ministers from Russia and Ukraine will meet in Turkey on Thursday in the first high-level talks between the two countries since Moscow invaded its neighbour, with Ankara hoping they could mark a turning point in the raging conflict.
Turkey and Israel aim to move on from years of tension
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet his Turkish counterpart in the presidential palace in Ankara in an effort to restore ties between the two countries. Herzog is the first Israeli leader to visit Turkey since 2008.
A tangled web for Turkey in Russia’s war with Ukraine
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its second week, Turkey finds itself in an unenviable position, entangled geographically, economically, politically, and militarily with the war’s protagonists, writes Henri J Barkey.
Erdogan urges Putin to declare Ukraine ceasefire and make peace
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (6 March) urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement, his office said.
US thanks Turkey for shutting down Black Sea straits for warships
Turkey is calling on all sides in the Ukraine crisis to respect an international pact on passage through the Turkish straits to the Black Sea, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was cited as saying after Ankara closed access.
Erdogan discusses Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with Lukashenko
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office said early on Tuesday (1 March) that he held a phone call with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko to discuss developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two premiers discussed ceasefire talks between Russia...
Turkey’s opposition leader looks to emerge from Erdogan’s shadow
A veteran Turkish politician who has struggled for years to have Erdoğan voted out of office says that his dream is drawing nearer, even as doubts remain whether he will be the main opposition candidate at the 2023 presidential elections.
Russia to increase gas supplies to Italy, Draghi to visit Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Italy that Russia is ready to increase its gas supplies to the country if needed, the Russian ambassador to Italy Sergey Razov said on Thursday (17 February).
Cyprus minister pins blame for migration ’emergency’ on Turkey
The small Mediterranean island of Cyprus has an outsized problem with irregular migration, says the interior minister of the EU member state located closest to the Middle East.
Turkey says DW, VOA, Euronews must obtain licences or have access blocked
Turkey's broadcasting watchdog has given three international news agencies 72 hours to obtain an operating licence or else have access to their platforms blocked, one of its members said on Wednesday (9 February).
Erdogan says Turkey, Israel can jointly bring gas to Europe
Turkey and Israel can work together to carry Israeli natural gas to Europe and the two countries will discuss energy cooperation during talks next month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was quoted as saying on Friday (4 February).
Turkey blames Greece after 12 migrants freeze to death near border
Turkish authorities have found the bodies of 12 migrants who froze to death near Greece, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Wednesday (2 January), accusing Greek guards of sending them back across the border without shoes.
Erdogan seeks payoff from Russia-US clash on Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will try to leverage his strategic position in NATO and his rapport with Russia's Vladimir Putin when he visits Kyiv on Thursday (3 January) in a bid to head off war in Ukraine.
Russia, Ukraine warm to Turkey helping ease tensions
Both Russia and Ukraine are open to the idea of Turkey playing a role to ease tensions between the two countries, as proposed by Ankara in November, Turkish diplomatic sources said on Thursday (20 January).
Greece fumes as Washington loses interest in EastMed gas pipeline
The United States is no longer supporting the construction of EastMed gas pipeline project as Washington’s interest is now switching to renewable energy sources, according to a State Department statement. According to Greek media, the move profits Turkey.
Interview: Why did so many Kurds go to Belarus?
Political disillusionment, lack of economic opportunities and dreams of a better life are reasons why many asylum seekers that enter Lithuania from Belarus originate from Iraqi Kurdistan, a region considered one of the wealthiest and most stable in the region.