Politics
Russia, Ukraine agree to new prisoner exchange in Istanbul talks
The second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in just over two weeks did not end negatively, according to a Turkish official.
The talks – the second such direct contacts between the sides since 2022 – had already begun nearly two hours later than scheduled, with no explanation of the delay.
State news agency TASS and the Interfax agency cited their own sources as saying the talks were over and that there were no plans to continue the talks later in the day.
The talks were intended to discuss ways out of Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine, but the two sides were apparently far apart going into the negotiations.
Kyiv had demanded an unconditional cease-fire as a first step; Moscow had a cease-fire on conditions that included Western states refraining from supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Ukrainian delegates handed over to Russian negotiators a list of children Kyiv wants Moscow to return to Ukraine, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said after the meeting.
“The eyes of the whole world are focused on the contacts here,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the Russian and Ukrainian delegations as they faced off against each other on opposite sides of the room in the sumptuous Çırağan Palace by the Bosphorus.
“We believe that you will achieve concrete results that will bring us one step closer to peace,” Fidan added.
He said the aim of the meeting was to evaluate the cease-fire, to discuss a possible meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, and to look at more prisoner exchange opportunities.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in Lithuania, later said the two sides were preparing a new exchange of prisoners of war.
His chief of staff also said the Ukrainian delegation had handed over a list of deported children to Russia during Monday’s talks that Ukraine wants returned home.
Ukrainian officials say hundreds of children were forcibly removed from Ukrainian territory by Russian forces, and they want them returned as part of a peace deal. Moscow says the children were moved to protect them from fighting.
No other details about Monday’s talks were immediately available.
The talks were intended to discuss ways out of Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine, but the two sides were apparently far apart going into the negotiations.
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow’s delegation, said that Russia had received Ukraine’s draft memorandum for a peace accord ahead of the talks.
Russia had said it would present its draft peace accord at the talks and a cease-fire proposal. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was heading his country’s delegation. Several members of his delegation wore combat fatigues.
The last round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on May 16 yielded the biggest prisoner swap of the war, with each side freeing 1,000 prisoners, but no sign of peace or a cease-fire, as they merely stated their opening negotiating positions, which were far apart.
Strain on peace
Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on the key conditions for stopping the war.
Fierce fighting has continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, and both sides have hit each other’s territory with deep strikes.
On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep inside Russia, Ukraine’s Security Service said, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones.
Russian air defenses downed 162 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday.
Ukrainian air defenses damaged 52 out of 80 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said.
Two ballistic missiles struck a residential neighborhood in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, including one that hit near a school, the city’s mayor said.
One missile landed near an apartment building, while the second struck a road near the school, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a statement, and published a photo of a wide crater.
“Standing next to the crater, you realize how different it all could have been,” Terekhov wrote. “A few more meters – and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes – and cars, buses would have been on the road.”
No casualties were reported.
Refat Chubarov, head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, said a delegation led by Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Abdulcemil Kırımoğlu will visit Türkiye from April 17-19 to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, as Ankara remains a key hub for the Crimean Tatar diaspora.
Speaking to reporters at the Embassy of Ukraine in Ankara on Tuesday, Chubarov said he arrived in Türkiye ahead of the delegation to hold preliminary meetings with Turkish officials and representatives of Crimean Tatar associations.
During his visit to Ankara, Chubarov is expected to meet senior figures including Fuat Oktay, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Kürşat Zorlu. He will also visit the Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) to discuss cultural and linguistic cooperation projects.
Chubarov said the delegation’s top priority is the situation of political prisoners in Crimea, noting that they will seek Türkiye’s support in efforts to secure their release. He added that strengthening ties with the large Crimean Tatar diaspora in Türkiye remains an important objective.
Highlighting the broader implications of the Russia-Ukraine war, Chubarov said a just peace could lead to major shifts in the international system.
He echoed remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the need for reform in global governance, citing criticism that international institutions, including the United Nations, have failed to fulfill their responsibilities.
He also pointed to the potential for closer cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine in regional security and postwar reconstruction efforts.
On recent developments in Ukraine, Chubarov welcomed a decree authorizing steps toward formally recognizing the Crimean Tatar Mejlis as the official representative body of the Crimean Tatar people.
He also stressed that the Mejlis should not be viewed as a civil society organization but as a legitimate political representative institution.
Chubarov said consultations between Ukrainian authorities and the Mejlis would continue, emphasizing that issues concerning Crimea and Crimean Tatars should not be discussed without their direct representation in negotiations.
He also noted that of the 351 political prisoners detained in Crimea since its annexation by Russia in 2014, 180 are Crimean Tatars, describing the situation as part of a broader effort to instill fear and suppress the community.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, former chair of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison by a court in the southern city of Mersin on Tuesday, on charges of insulting the president. The sentence was suspended and subject to appeal.
The lawsuit goes back to 2013, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was serving as prime minister and Kılıçdaroğlu was in the third year of his 13-year tenure in Türkiye’s oldest party. The opposition leader was accused of insulting Erdoğan during a rally in Mersin. Kılıçdaroğlu did not attend Tuesday’s hearing while his lawyer participated in the hearing via videolink. The judge ruled for a suspended sentence on charges of insulting a public official. Kılıçdaroğlu’s lawyer will take the verdict to a higher court of appeal, which may overturn it.
The veteran politician lost to Erdoğan in a run-off in the 2023 presidential election. He was later replaced as party leader by Özgür Özel, who is now accused of buying votes in the November 2023 intra-party election, where he defeated Kılıçdaroğlu.
Kılıçdaroğlu is still seen as harboring ambitions to return to the CHP leadership. Media outlets recently reported that he was in talks with people still loyal to him in the party to take over the leadership. A hearing in May over vote-buying allegations may conclude with a verdict of “absolute nullification” of the Özel administration. This, in turn, will require the appointment of a trustee to the party leadership. Kılıçdaroğlu has earlier signalled that he was ready to be a trustee.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek’s recent remarks on proposed social media regulations have sparked new debates. Experts underline that the suggested system could have a deterrent effect against manipulation through disinformation, reputational attacks, and the use of fake and bot accounts.
“Gürlek’s statement in early April 2026 signals a transformative shift in balancing anonymity and accountability in the digital world,” Ali Murat Kırık, professor at Marmara University and the head of Visual Communication Design department, told to Daily Sabah.
“The proposed system aims to curb manipulation carried out through disinformation, reputational attacks, and fake accounts (bots).”
Speaking at a public program on April 3, 2026, Gürlek announced plans to end anonymity on social media, saying users will be required to log in with their national identification numbers under a forthcoming legal framework.
He said negotiations with social media platforms had concluded with mutual agreement, paving the way for a system that would mandate identity verification for all users in Türkiye.
Under the proposed regulation, social media accounts would be tied to individuals’ official identities, making users legally accountable for their online activity.
“If a person opens an account on social media and commits a crime, there must be consequences,” Gürlek said. “We want social media to have rules and a legal framework. If someone opens an account, they must bear responsibility for it.”
The minister stressed that the measure aims to strengthen the fight against cybercrime, curb disinformation and establish legal responsibility in digital spaces.
Kırık also asserted that the system appears technically feasible, particularly in light of reports that authorities have reached an agreement with social media platforms.
He said the model could function through API integration, allowing platforms to connect with centralized identity verification systems such as Türkiye’s e-Government infrastructure. During account registration, users would verify their identity using national ID numbers along with mobile phone authentication.
“This would establish a direct link between digital accounts and real individuals,” he noted.
While announcing the new social media reform Gürlek also added that anonymous or fake accounts often distort events and contribute to what he described as “trial by social media,” where individuals are judged and condemned online without due process.
“If someone insults others or carries out a smear campaign online, they must face the consequences.”
Gürlek noted that the regulation is expected to be formalized as part of Türkiye’s upcoming 12th Judicial Reform Package, which would provide the legal basis for requiring verified identities on social media platforms.
Kırık also argued that the platform compliance is another critical dimension of the proposal, pointing to a shift in the stance of major global companies such as such as X and Meta, which previously resisted similar regulatory demands, now appear more open to cooperation.
According to him, this change is largely driven by Türkiye’s recent legal framework, which requires social media companies to maintain local representation and comply with national regulations, increasing pressure on platforms to align with domestic rules.
On the other hand, Mert H. Akgün, a researcher in law and human rights at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), asserted that the misuse of anonymity on social media has become a growing concern, particularly through fake accounts used to shape public opinion or influence political and social developments.
“In some cases, these practices can even undermine individual safety and public order. In that sense, efforts to extend the rule of law and reinforce cyber sovereignty into the digital sphere can be seen as both reasonable and necessary,” he said.
Ensuring that legal norms are effectively applied on social media is essential to maintaining the integrity of the legal order, according to Akgün. “Anonymity should not function as a shield from legal accountability.”
The plan outlines a three-month transition period, with the regulation to be implemented gradually rather than all at once.
Under the proposal, existing users would be required to verify their accounts by linking them to their real identities through secure systems such as Türkiye’s e-Government platform or similar verification tools.
At the end of the transition period, accounts that fail to complete identity verification including those identified as fake or automated would be permanently removed by the platforms.
According to Akgün, while steps such as identity verification may strengthen accountability and security, they must be designed in a way that does not undermine the open and dynamic nature of online public discourse.
“Balancing freedom of expression with the protection of other fundamental rights and public security remains a delicate challenge.”
The regulation also introduces an age requirement, setting a minimum of 15 years to access social media platforms. While children under 15 would be restricted from opening accounts, additional biometric limitations and filtering systems are expected to be applied to users under 18.
Combatting Disinformation
Moreover, Türkiye has been actively working to counter disinformation as it poses a great threat against the peace in public. The Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) was established to address the growing global challenge of misinformation and focus on debunking false claims related to national security, public safety and diplomatic affairs.
“The system could have a strong deterrent effect in combatting disinformation,” Kırık asserted. Reminding that when users know their online activity is directly linked to their real identities and legal responsibilities, they are more likely to act with caution.
“This could lead to a noticeable decrease in the spread of false information and unlawful content.”
Burhanettin Duran, the head of the Directorate of Communications, previously said that the state must play a regulatory and supervisory role by establishing a strong legal framework, while families should raise awareness for themselves and their children. Digital platforms, he added, must assume greater responsibility for content moderation and algorithmic transparency.
“Digital platforms do not only create personal addictions,” Duran said. “They produce consequences that destroy families, weaken social relationships and, in some cases, cost individuals their lives. We cannot abandon the digital world, but we must manage it. Control has to remain in our hands.”
Meanwhile, Akgün stated that the measure could provide meaningful support in the fight against disinformation, but caution that it is not a standalone solution, saying that the problem extends beyond anonymous individuals, pointing to more complex dynamics such as coordinated networks, automated bot systems, engagement-driven platform business models and algorithmic amplification.
“Introducing real-name requirements may reduce certain types of fake accounts, but it does not automatically dismantle the broader ecosystem through which disinformation operates, Akgün agrued, “For that reason, combating disinformation requires an integrated and multi-layered approach.”
He indicated that rather than concentrating exclusively on monitoring users, priority should be given to placing platforms themselves under effective legal oversight.
“Mechanisms such as enhanced transparency obligations, independent oversight structures, and a graduated system of sanctions can create more sustainable and systemic solutions to the problem of disinformation.”
Turkish authorities have detained 525 suspects in nationwide operations targeting the Daesh terrorist group, the Interior Ministry announced Monday.
The raids were carried out across 56 provinces including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Manisa, Mersin in coordination with the police counterterrorism units, intelligence authorities, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and public prosecutors, the ministry said in a statement.
Among those detained were individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, as well as suspects accused of previous involvement in Daesh activities, providing financial support to the group and maintaining links with foreign terrorist members, authorities said.
Officials said 88 of the suspects, identified as foreign terrorist fighters, were transferred to repatriation centers for deportation procedures.
The operations, conducted simultaneously by provincial counterterrorism units, resulted in the seizure of weapons, ammunition, financial assets, as well as organizational documents and digital materials, according to the statement.
Last week, a shooting incident near the former Israeli Consulate building in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district triggered a large-scale security response after armed assailants opened fire near a police point at the Yapı Kredi Plaza complex.
Police units engaged the attackers in a gunbattle, during which the suspects were neutralized and two officers were lightly injured.
Turkish media reports said the gunman who was killed was a 32-year-old man linked to Daesh.
Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace, as the group faces nationwide raids, and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013.
Officials said counterterrorism operations targeting Daesh networks and financing structures will continue across the country.
Permission has been granted for a formal investigation into allegations against Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş to determine whether municipal resources were used during election rallies, according to statements from the Interior Ministry and the municipality.
The authorization, issued roughly one year after prosecutors first requested it, also covers eight municipal employees. The request had been submitted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 21, 2025, concerning claims that vehicles, equipment and personnel belonging to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) were used during campaign events held in the provinces of Karabük and Çankırı.
Following an evaluation by civil inspectors affiliated with the Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi approved the investigation. In the written decision, inspectors stated that the use of municipal vehicles, broadcasting equipment and staff at a rally attended by Yavaş in Çankırı “could not reasonably be expected to have occurred without the knowledge of the mayor,” even though no direct instruction or order was identified.
Those included in the investigation alongside Yavaş are several former municipal officials and staff members from departments such as cultural affairs, public works and technical services.
In a written statement, the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality rejected the allegations, emphasizing that the decision itself acknowledged there was no evidence indicating that Yavaş had issued instructions or directives regarding the use of public resources. The municipality argued that attributing responsibility based solely on the assumption that the events could not have taken place without his knowledge was insufficient.
The municipality further described the investigation authorization as a “strain on legal principles,” alleging it amounted to an attempt to pressure and discredit Yavaş. Officials said they would formally object to the decision and provide additional details to the public in a forthcoming press briefing.
The case is expected to proceed following the completion of procedural steps and potential appeals.
Yavaş, who was once touted as the future vice president of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), also faces charges over astronomical spending on public concerts, as details of the investigation emerge.
According to findings in the investigation file, 32 concerts organized by the Yavaş administration between 2021 and 2024 resulted in a total public loss of TL 154,453,000 ($3.47 million).
Tenders allegedly tailored to specific parties under justifications such as “single source,” “special authorization” and “direct procurement” were recorded as one of the largest organization-related scandals in municipal history. The messages between H.A.B. and organizers suggest that a kind of “exchange” was set up for concerts that had not yet even gone to tender.
The expert report states that company owners sending price lists to municipal bureaucrats for projects that had not yet been approved constitutes clear evidence of bid rigging.
The Ankara mayor was already criticized in the past for excessive spending during Republic Day celebrations on Oct. 29, 2024, as media outlets reported that the municipality paid TL 69 million for a concert by a popular singer.
Recently, prosecutors have been carrying out multiple corruption investigations against the main opposition CHP and its municipal administrations across Türkiye.
Türkiye’s pursuit of justice and balance in international order will also be reflected at November’s COP31 Summit, which it will host in coordination with Australia. Environment, Urban Development and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum on Tuesday said they will advocate for climate finance to reach directly to affected regions and developing countries at COP31, pledging that the country will act as an “honest intermediary and fair referee” in the process.
Speaking at a program titled Climate Change and Environmental Agenda in Türkiye on the Road to COP31, organized by think tank Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) in Ankara, Kurum stressed that humanity’s core problem today is not merely carbon emissions, but the ongoing struggle between humankind and nature. He noted that Turkish diplomacy was once merely an observer in global climate platforms such as the Rio Summit, but said Türkiye has now strengthened its role as an active and influential actor under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Kurum emphasized that water has become a strategic resource and even a factor in conflict in today’s world, adding that states that manage water resources effectively and produce energy without harming nature will shape the future.
At the COP31 gathering, nearly 200 countries are expected to convene in Türkiye to discuss the next steps in implementing the Paris Agreement, including updated emission reduction targets, adaptation measures, climate finance and carbon market rules.
“Today, conflicts in our region trigger energy crises, and asymmetric conflicts increase instability in oil markets. This shows that instability and climate change constitute an ecological survival issue,” Kurum said.
He stated that Türkiye views the climate crisis both as a front requiring strategic defense and as a development opportunity, adding that this approach should be translated into a concrete, measurable, and decisive action plan involving all segments of society.
Kurum said Türkiye’s priorities at COP31 would include water and food security, noting that the world is entering an era where water may replace oil as a critical resource.
“We are rapidly moving toward a period where water will be central to national security and regional stability,” he said, adding that Türkiye advocates for a world where no drop of water is wasted and where countries are able to achieve self-sufficiency with fair financial and technical support. Global population growth, urbanization, changing consumption patterns, conflicts and climate change are intensifying pressure on water resources, with projections showing that by 2040, 33 countries, including Türkiye, could face “extremely high water stress.”
A 2025 study by the U.S.-based World Resources Institute analyzed 167 countries using a water stress indicator. By 2040, countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and parts of Southern Europe are expected to face extreme water stress.
Türkiye ranks 27th, highlighting the combined impact of rising demand and climate pressures. Its neighbors also face significant risks, underscoring the regional challenge of securing sustainable water resources. Fourteen of the most at-risk countries are in the Middle East, heavily dependent on groundwater and costly desalination, with water scarcity threatening economic growth, food production, energy supply and migration patterns.
Highlighting the Zero Waste Project initiative, which has become a global brand under the auspices of first lady Emine Erdoğan, Kurum said the initiative represents an effort to protect the “law of nature,” transforming waste into energy and raw material.
“The global financial system places the burden not on those who pollute, but on those who are polluted. We fundamentally reject this,” Kurum added.
“In this regard, we categorically reject the current system. Türkiye will fight at COP31 to ensure that climate finance reaches directly to affected geographies and developing countries, and we commit to acting as an honest intermediary and fair referee,” Kurum said.
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