Kremlin Hopes for ‘Good Talks’ with Erdogan on Wednesday

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kremlin Hopes for ‘Good Talks’ with Erdogan on Wednesday

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a comprehensive round of talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday in Sochi. Discussions between the two leaders will likely focus on Syria, especially developments on the ground around the northern Idlib province.

Russian diplomats stressed that the talks would be “decisive” in terms of setting future visions for previous understandings on Idlib. Paving the way for the meeting, the Kremlin said Moscow hopes that the two presidents hold “good talks.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov confirmed the Putin-Erdogan summit would focus on the situation in Idlib as well as a host of issues in which Moscow and Akara can cooperate.

“Putin and Erdogan have found the potential to negotiate to reach an agreement on Idlib by showing political will,” said Peskov.

“The agreements have been reached. Unfortunately, the activity of terrorists continues in those regions,” he added.

Noting that the situation was unacceptable and dangerous, Peskov said it hinders the solution process in Syria.

“All of this will be on the summit’s agenda,” he noted.

“Despite everything, Turkey is a partner with whom we have very developed relations and with whom we also have differences of opinion,” explained Peskov.

The Kremlin spokesman stressed that there are indeed very trust-based relations between Putin and Erdogan and that these relations lay the groundwork for serious negotiations.

The Turkish president had said earlier that the meeting’s agenda would include developments in the de-escalation zone in the Syrian province of Idlib and the reality of bilateral relations.

Erdogan pointed out the importance of the role that Turkey and Russia play in the region, noting that Ankara “did not see any differences in relations with Moscow.”

Russian and Turkish analysts, officials, and diplomats had suggested that the summit would result in important decisions regarding the arrangements for the situation in Idlib.

Russian diplomats suggested that the two presidents would likely discuss “new understandings” on Idlib against the backdrop of the failure to implement a part of the terms of the previous agreement signed in 2018.



Hamas Says 33 Hostages Killed in Course of War in Gaza

Israeli soldiers play football near tanks and armored personnel carrier (APC), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, June 2, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli soldiers play football near tanks and armored personnel carrier (APC), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, June 2, 2024. (Reuters)
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Hamas Says 33 Hostages Killed in Course of War in Gaza

Israeli soldiers play football near tanks and armored personnel carrier (APC), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, June 2, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli soldiers play football near tanks and armored personnel carrier (APC), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel, June 2, 2024. (Reuters)

Hamas said on Monday that 33 hostages in Gaza had been killed during the almost 14-month-old war between the Palestinian group and Israel in the enclave, without giving their nationalities.

Hamas added that other hostages had gone missing.

"With the continuation of your crazy war," it said in a statement addressed to Israel, "you could lose your hostages forever. Do what you have to do before it is too late."

Hamas shortly afterward published a video it said detailed when and how the hostages had been killed, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their fate.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment, which came as Israeli military strikes continued in Gaza.

Hamas has called for an end to the war and total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal to release remaining hostages. Netanyahu has said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated and poses no more threat to Israel.

Israel launched its war after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's military offensive has killed more than 44,400 Palestinians and displaced most of Gaza's population, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the enclave lie in ruins.

The Israeli military said Monday an Israeli American soldier who was believed to have been taken hostage alive on Oct. 7, 2023, is now presumed to have been killed during Hamas’ attack and his body taken into Gaza.  

Neutra, 21, was a New York native who enlisted in the Israeli military and was captured when Hamas attacked southern Israel.  

Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, led a public campaign while he was thought to be alive for their son’s freedom. They spoke at protests in the US and Israel, addressed the Republican National Convention this year and kept up ties with the Biden administration in their crusade to secure their son’s release.  

In a statement announcing the death, the military did not say how it came to the conclusion over Neutra’s fate.  

He was one of seven American Israelis still held in Gaza, four of whom are now said to be dead. Hamas released a video of one, Edan Alexander, over the weekend, indicating he was still alive.  

In late summer, Hamas killed Hersh Goldberg-Polin, another prominent Israeli American hostage, along with five other captives, whose bodies the Israeli military recovered.