Turkey’s Fidan heads to Moscow as S-400 sanctions issue returns to fore The visit comes weeks before Turkey hosts NATO leaders, on the sidelines of which Ankara hopes to reach a deal with Washington over CAATSA sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400s. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says US strikes render April ceasefire ‘meaningless’ Fresh US strikes and Iranian retaliation deepen regional tensions, while Washington tightens sanctions, France pushes for a larger role in Lebanon, and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Russia in talks on 'reformatting' its military sites in Syria: What to know Moscow signals it wants to maintain its presence in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently said that Russian bases will be converted into training centers. Syria
Interview Armenia candidate Tatoyan eyes Pashinyan's pro-West mantle in sea of Russia-backed rivals In an interview from Yerevan, Armenian opposition candidate Arman Tatoyan denies pro-Russian ties and says he would deepen cooperation with the European Union and the United States while pursuing a gradual approach to relations with Moscow. Arman Tatoyan Founder, Wings of Unity Party
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Oil eases as Trump pauses Iran strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
What will Turkey do if Russia turns off gas? The risk of Russia cutting gas supplies to Europe amid the Ukraine crisis has exposed Turkey’s energy vulnerability, with Istanbul, its most populous city and main industrial hub, dependent on Russian gas. Turkey
How much of US Middle East policy does Moscow understand? Poor understanding of US and Russian policies has caused commentators to overlook that some of Moscow's and Washington's disagreements over the Middle East are strategic and tactical, but their ends the same. Iraq
Russia focuses on eliminating Middle East terrorist threat Increased terrorist activity in the Middle East has Russia rethink its foreign policy, and support the Arab League's intention of a "comprehensive treaty of collective security." Palestine
Looking to Europe, Turkey increases investment in Azeri gas Turkey paid the French company $1.45 billion to increase its share in gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz-2 gas field from 9% to 19%. Turkey
Russian bonanza or ‘Russian roulette’ for Turkey? With Turkey’s agricultural output already hit by drought, a deal to increase agricultural exports to Russia threatens to fuel the country’s unruly inflation. Turkey
Fars News proposes joint reporting by Iran, Russia The director of Fars News Agency has proposed that Iranian and Russian news organizations cooperate to combat the influence of Western media. Russia
Russia keeps eye on Islamic State Russia views the expansion of the Islamic State in Iraq as a threat to its own security, especially given the potential return home of Russian-born jihadists. Iraq
Moscow sees opportunity in Iraq instability Moscow is continuing arms sales to Iraq and pursuing a policy that may allow it to weaken US influence in the country. Iraq
Russia urges Syria to surrender chemical arms to avert strikes Russia announced that it has given a proposal to the Syrian Government which would require the Syrian regime to place their chemical weapons under international control and allow their subsequent destruction. Syria
Obama, Putin previously discussed plan to secure Syria chemical arms US and Russian officials confirmed that discussions over securing Syria's chemical arms had been talking place for months before the alleged August chemical attack. Syria
Framework text: US, Russia reach deal to remove Syria chemical arms After three days of negotiations in Geneva Russia and the US have reached an agreement under which Syria would declare all of its chemical weapons sites within seven days and have all of its chemical weapons destroyed or removed by mid 2014. Syria
Moscow treads lightly in Gaza Though Moscow undoubtedly disapproves of Israel’s harsh actions in Gaza, it's being careful not to take an anti-Israel stance. Palestine
