Turkey has begun construction of a 224-kilometer railway line worth $2. 8 billion, connecting the country with Nakhchivan via Azerbaijan. This project will become part of the "Middle Corridor" between China and Europe, bypassing Russia, and can reduce goods delivery time by 10-15 days.
In 2022, after the Swedish Prime Minister's visit to Turkey, an official forgot a folder with partially classified documents regarding NATO accession negotiations in a toilet at Arlanda Airport. It was found by a cleaner, raising security concerns.
Dozens of heads of state and government, including the US and China, sent congratulations to Ukraine on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of Independence. President Zelenskyy thanked for the support in the fight against Russian aggression.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the NATO summit will be held on July 7 and 8, 2026, in Ankara. Turkey will host the Alliance's summit for the second time.
The meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska did not yield public results regarding an end to the war in Ukraine. Details of the conversations, particularly in the limousine, remained undisclosed, raising concerns about possible agreements.
Investigations into the activities of the Istanbul Municipality continue in Turkey, with 25 people detained on charges of tender fraud. Dozens of people were detained during operations conducted in Istanbul, Antalya, Çanakkale, Trabzon, Bursa, and Giresun.
In the southeastern province of Şırnak, Turkey, a new temperature record for continental Europe was recorded — 50. 5 °C, surpassing the previous maximum of 48.8 °C set in Sicily in 2021. Extreme heat has gripped 31 provinces of Turkey, where temperatures significantly exceed seasonal norms.
Numerous forest fires, caused by strong winds, have engulfed Turkey, leading to the closure of the Bursa-Ankara highway. At least 13 people have died, flames are approaching residential areas, and authorities are advising citizens to stay indoors due to ash.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian team is already holding meetings in Turkey. The priority of negotiations with the Russians is to prepare a meeting of leaders.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. The security situation, regional stability, and defense cooperation were discussed.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that Russia demonstrates an intention to start a conflict with Azerbaijan. He noted that Moscow's influence in the region has weakened, and Azerbaijan has left its orbit.
Elon Musk's startup xAI has released Grok 4, a new flagship artificial intelligence model that, according to Musk, outperforms PhDs. Simultaneously, xAI introduced a new SuperGrok Heavy subscription for $300 per month, making it the most expensive on the AI market.
Ankara Prosecutor's Office ordered to block Grok, Elon Musk's AI, after the chatbot created content allegedly offensive to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his mother. Turkey became the first country to impose censorship on Grok.
Nariman Dzhelyal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Turkey, presented his credentials to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. This event officially granted him the authority to perform the duties of an ambassador.
Turkey will host the NATO leaders' summit in July 2026 in Ankara "to make important decisions. " President Erdoğan emphasized Turkey's firm position on defense cooperation.
The UK stated that all members of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium support the sale of fighter jets to Turkey, overcoming Germany's previous blocking. This increases the prospects for realizing the deal, which has been under negotiation for years.
Turkish President Erdogan stated that he is in constant dialogue with Ukraine and Russia to organize a third round of negotiations. Turkey strives for a just and lasting peace, prioritizing diplomacy.
Donald Trump is ready to visit the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey. His participation depends on the presence of Vladimir Putin at these negotiations.
Russian Gazprom has suspended the gas hub project in Turkey, which was supposed to be a way to return to the European market. Turkey has no export capacity, and the EU plans to ban gas from russia.
Turkey plans to initiate a summit with the participation of Zelensky, Putin and, possibly, Trump, after negotiations in Istanbul. Erdogan expressed his readiness to organize a meeting in Ankara or Istanbul.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated that he does not plan to run for president after 2028. He aims to enhance the country's reputation, rather than seek re-election.
At the talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation discussed the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. It is at such a meeting that an agreement on a ceasefire can be reached.
President Zelenskyy stated that the Russian delegation in Istanbul cannot agree to a ceasefire. He emphasized that Putin continues to undermine democracy by refusing negotiations.
It is not known for certain whether negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Istanbul today, May 15, or whether they have been postponed to tomorrow, May 16. Delegations have already arrived in the city.
Turkey is ready to host Ukraine and Russia for continued dialogue if both sides are willing. Erdoğan stressed that negotiations are important to avoid casualties.
Zelenskyy stated that Russia does not respect Erdogan and Trump by sending a delegation to Turkey.
A representative of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, will make a statement following the meeting with Ukraine in Turkey. The statement is scheduled for 17:30 Moscow time.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5. 2 occurred in the Turkish city of Konya. Underground tremors were felt in Ankara and surrounding provinces, the epicenter was recorded at a depth of 18.73 km.
Ukraine will announce the composition of the negotiating group with Russia in a timely manner, so as not to give the Russian Federation unnecessary information reasons. The Russian delegation is represented by technical staff without independent opinion.
The British Prime Minister stated that Putin is the reason for stalling the ceasefire in Ukraine, after he failed to appear at peace talks in Turkey.
