Turkish President Talks with Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a statement in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022, in this still image taken from a handout video. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a statement in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022, in this still image taken from a handout video. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
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Turkish President Talks with Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a statement in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022, in this still image taken from a handout video. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a statement in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022, in this still image taken from a handout video. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky by telephone, discussing the situation in Ukraine and negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, Erdogan’s office said late Friday.

Erdogan told his counterpart that he had raised Turkey’s support for Ukrainian territorial integrity at a recent NATO summit, where he had relayed the diplomatic efforts made by Turkey in one-one-one meetings with other leaders, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

Ankara, which has close ties with both Russia and Ukraine, has positioned itself as a neutral party, seeking to facilitate negotiations between the warring sides.



US Typhon Missile to Stay in Philippines for Now, Top Security Official Says 

An aerial view of China occupied Subi Reef at Spratly Islands in disputed South China Sea April 21, 2017. (Reuters)
An aerial view of China occupied Subi Reef at Spratly Islands in disputed South China Sea April 21, 2017. (Reuters)
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US Typhon Missile to Stay in Philippines for Now, Top Security Official Says 

An aerial view of China occupied Subi Reef at Spratly Islands in disputed South China Sea April 21, 2017. (Reuters)
An aerial view of China occupied Subi Reef at Spratly Islands in disputed South China Sea April 21, 2017. (Reuters)

The US military's Typhon launchers which can fire multi-purpose missiles up to thousands of kilometers will stay in the Philippines for the time being, the national security adviser to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano told reporters the launchers will stay on Philippine shores "for now", a day after Reuters reported that the launchers were moved to a new location within the island of Luzon from the northern Laoag airfield.

The Philippine military separately said on Friday the deployment of the launchers with mid-range capability was in line with Washington's longstanding defense ties with the country.

"The primary objective of this deployment is to strengthen Philippine military readiness, improve our familiarization and interoperability with advanced weapon systems, and support regional security," armed forces spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement.

The weapon's presence on Philippine territory drew sharp rebukes from China when it was first deployed in April 2024 during military exercises. Beijing accused the Philippines on Thursday of creating tension and confrontation in the region, urging it to "correct its wrong practices".

Treaty allies the United States and the Philippines "coordinate closely on all aspects of the MRC deployment, including its positioning", Padilla said.

The Typhon launchers can fire multi-purpose missiles up to thousands of kilometers such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines. The SM-6 missiles it carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200 km (165 miles) away.

"These arrangements reflect shared operational considerations and mutual consultations between our two nations," Padilla said.