30,000 Illegally Cultivated Marijuana Plants Eradicated in Turkey
The Turkish drug enforcement agency recently eliminated 30,000 marijuana plants that were clandestinely cultivated in a sprawling terraced garden near the Tigris River, which is listed as a UN Cultural Heritage site, according to media reports on Sunday. A coordinated operation took place at dawn, involving divers and boats, with aerial support from helicopters and […]
Russia and Ukraine Engage in Direct Peace Talks in Turkey for the First Time in More Than Three Years
Istanbul: Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine convened in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first face-to-face peace discussions in more than three years. Live updates from Turkish television showed the representatives engaging in talks with Turkish officials, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressing the room at the meeting’s outset. Taking place at the Dolmabahce Palace, […]
Few Hopes for Russia-Ukraine Discussions in Turkey; Putin Will Not Be Present
Delegations from Moscow and Kiev are scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Friday, marking their first in-person discussions about the conflict in Ukraine since 2022. Despite this significant gathering, hopes for meaningful progress in ending the war are low, especially with Russian President Vladimir Putin not in attendance. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has […]
Russia Attributes ‘Shifts in the Situation’ as Putin Avoids Discussions with Zelensky in Turkey
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Russia plans to modify its demands regarding Ukraine “for the sake of ground developments.” Putin suggested on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine should restart peace talks that had begun in 2022 but quickly faded after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since first invading Ukraine in 2014 and acquiring Crimea, […]
Before Turkey Peace Talks, Volodymyr Zelensky States Russia “Does Not Want To End War”
Ukrainian Delegation to Meet Russia in Istanbul Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday that the country’s delegation will participate in talks with Russia in Istanbul, aiming to achieve a ceasefire. Leading the Istanbul delegation is Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, accompanied by military and intelligence representatives. A source from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, mentioned by […]
Putin Misses Scheduled Ukraine War Discussions in Turkey, According to Kremlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the Russian delegation sent for peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday, suggesting they were nothing but a facade after President Vladimir Putin’s absence. Zelensky expressed skepticism about the possibility of meaningful negotiations after learning that Putin would not attend. A spokesperson for Ukraine had previously indicated that Putin’s presence was […]
Zelensky visits Turkey for discussions on peace, with Putin not attending.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on Thursday for planned peace discussions, but notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin was absent. Upon his arrival in Ankara, Zelensky criticized the Russian delegation, likening it to “Siam.” “I don’t officially know the status of the Russian representatives yet, but it appears to be staged,” Zelensky remarked. “We’re […]
Zelensky visits Turkey for peace discussions while Putin is missing
A Russian delegation has reached Istanbul for discussions with Ukraine, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Ankara alongside other senior officials. This development was reported on Thursday. Notably, President Vladimir Putin did not join the Moscow delegation, as indicated by a list from the Kremlin released the previous night. The Russian team, headed […]
India-Pakistan update: Three brothers and the Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan connection, allies of Turkey, India’s boycott of Turkey, and Azerbaijan.
In May 2025, during a brief conflict lasting 100 hours between India and Pakistan, Islamabad initiated a large-scale assault using drones and missiles targeting both military sites and civilians. The most intense attacks occurred from late May 8 to early May 9, with between 300 and 400 drones, along with over a dozen missiles, striking […]
Ukraine war update: Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years scheduled to start in Turkey
Estonian Foreign Minister Reports NATO Airspace Violation Estonia’s foreign minister stated that a Russian fighter jet briefly entered NATO airspace for about one minute. He characterized the incident as quite serious, noting that the aircraft was dispatched while Estonia was attempting to apprehend a Russian tanker suspected of engaging in espionage activities. Criticism of Russian […]