Turkey

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukraine’s top diplomat Andrii Sybiha have traded blows, accusing each other’s countries of striking energy infrastructure despite a US-brokered limited ceasefire, as they spoke at separate panels at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Erdoğan said European security is ‘unthinkable without Turkey’ after White House warned that the continent must look after its own security.

The mass protests triggered by Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest come as the EU tries to deepen its engagement with Turkey over Syria and Ukraine.

Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested in a dawn raid on his home on Wednesday over alleged corruption and links to a terrorist organisation, escalating a crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices.

Authorities closed off roads and implemented a four-day demonstration ban in an effort to prevent protests following Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest.

Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested in a dawn raid on his home on Wednesday over alleged corruption and links to a terrorist organisation, escalating a crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices.

The leaders of Turkey and Poland met in Ankara to discuss strengthening Turkey-Poland relations, Turkey-EU ties during the Polish presidency of the European Council and regional issues including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Turkey, who shares a 910 kilometre border with Syria, is considered a key ally of its new administration.

The international community helps Syria & Turkey to restore mobility to the war-disabled, and take some of the strain off stretched local health services.

Turkey has a major role in Syria’s reconstruction, and transport investments like railway links are on the agenda although Gulf money may prove vital.