分类： politics

In a groundbreaking move, a Turkish parliamentary committee established to oversee a new peace initiative with Kurdish militants has voted in favor of meeting Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The decision, reported by state broadcaster TRT, marks a significant step in efforts to end a decades-long insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Ocalan, who has been incarcerated on Imrali Island near Istanbul since 1999, remains a pivotal figure among Kurds despite being widely condemned by the Turkish public for his role in the conflict. The cross-party committee’s decision to send a delegation—potentially including members of a nationalist party—to Imrali is unprecedented. While the timing of the visit remains unclear, this development underscores the complexity of the peace process. Notably, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) abstained from the vote and has refused to participate in the visit, citing ongoing political tensions. The committee was formed in August following the PKK’s announcement in May that it would disarm and disband, a move prompted by Ocalan’s call for peace. The group later held a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq, signaling a shift toward de-escalation. However, skepticism persists due to the collapse of previous peace efforts, most recently in 2015. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s nationalist ally, Devlet Bahceli, has endorsed the initiative, even offering to visit Ocalan personally if others decline. This latest effort represents a delicate balance between reconciliation and political resistance in Turkey.

In a landmark ruling, Nathan Gill, a prominent hard-right British politician and former ally of Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage, has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian narratives in the European Parliament. The 52-year-old, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to eight counts of bribery, was found to have accepted at least £40,000 ($53,000) between December 2018 and July 2019. The bribes were orchestrated by Oleg Voloshyn, a pro-Russia Ukrainian politician, who tasked Gill with making favorable statements about Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including in the European Parliament and media outlets like 112 Ukraine. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 followed its annexation of Crimea in 2014, events that Gill’s statements sought to legitimize. Sentencing Gill at London’s Central Criminal Court, Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb condemned his actions, stating that he had allowed money to “corrupt his moral compass” and betrayed his duty to speak with honesty and conviction. Gill’s arrest in September 2021 at Manchester Airport, as he attempted to travel to Russia, and subsequent investigation revealed coded messages between him and Voloshyn, exposing their financial dealings. Gill, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 2014 for the anti-EU U.K. Independence Party, later represented the Brexit Party and remained in the legislature until the U.K.’s departure from the EU in 2020. Reform U.K., the successor to the Brexit Party, denounced Gill’s actions as “reprehensible, treasonous, and unforgivable,” expressing relief that justice had been served. Voloshyn, believed to be residing in Russia, is wanted by authorities in both the U.K. and Ukraine.

Amid escalating tensions and continued Russian military strikes in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautiously engaged with a US-proposed peace plan, despite its controversial provisions. The plan, which includes proposals such as Ukraine ceding control of parts of the Donetsk region, reducing its military size, and pledging not to join NATO, has been met with skepticism from Kyiv. Zelensky’s office issued a carefully-worded response, acknowledging the plan’s potential to revive diplomacy but stopping short of outright endorsement. Meanwhile, Russian strikes have claimed six more lives overnight, further intensifying the conflict. The Kremlin has yet to receive any official communication from the US regarding the plan, with spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stating that Russia remains open to peace talks but insists on addressing the ‘root causes of the conflict.’ The US draft, reportedly discussed with Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov, also proposes lifting sanctions on Russia and reintegrating it into the global economy, including a return to the G7. European leaders, however, have expressed limited involvement in the plan’s formulation, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasizing the need for Ukrainian and European consensus. As Zelensky prepares to discuss the proposals with US President Donald Trump, the plan’s reception among Ukrainians remains mixed, with some viewing it as a continuation of the war rather than a path to peace.

The Hungarian service of Radio Free Europe, Szabad Európa, officially ceased operations on Friday following the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw funding. This move marks the end of a pro-democracy news outlet that had been a vital source of independent journalism in Hungary. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a U.S. government-funded organization established during the Cold War, has long provided news to regions under authoritarian regimes, broadcasting in 27 languages across 23 countries. The Hungarian service was initially terminated in 1993 but was revived in 2020 in response to Hungary’s declining media freedom under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In a farewell statement, Szabad Európa expressed gratitude to its audience for their trust and support, noting that its articles would remain accessible online. The shutdown aligns with broader cuts to international broadcasters like RFE/RL and Voice of America, as well as domestic public broadcasters PBS and NPR, under the Trump administration. Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, justified the decision, stating that Szabad Európa’s operations in Hungary were ‘not aligned with U.S. national interests’ and undermined Trump’s foreign policy. Orbán, a close ally of Trump, has been accused of consolidating control over Hungary’s media landscape, with Reporters Without Borders estimating that his party controls 80% of the country’s media resources. In 2021, Orbán was labeled a media ‘predator’ by the watchdog, the first EU leader to receive such a designation. Earlier this year, his government introduced legislation targeting foreign-funded critical media outlets, further tightening its grip on press freedom.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has adopted a measured approach to a US-drafted peace proposal, refraining from outright criticism despite its apparent alignment with many of Moscow’s demands. The White House has countered assertions that Ukraine was excluded from the drafting process, emphasizing that the plan emerged from recent US-Russia discussions. In his nightly address, Zelensky underscored Ukraine’s commitment to peace, diplomacy, and constructive dialogue, stating, “We are ready for honest, efficient, and constructive work.” However, concerns linger over specific provisions, such as relinquishing the Donbas region, downsizing Ukraine’s military, and barring international troops—concessions previously rejected by Kyiv. Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn criticized the proposal as a “quick peace at the expense of the weaker side.” Recent developments have further strained Ukraine’s position, including Russian advances in the east, widespread power outages due to Moscow’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, and internal political turmoil fueled by corruption allegations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that achieving peace would necessitate tough compromises. The draft reportedly offers Ukraine “reliable security guarantees” and suggests using frozen Russian assets for reconstruction, while excluding NATO membership but leaving EU accession open. European nations, notably the UK and France, have been sidelined in the drafting process, with the proposal explicitly opposing foreign troop presence. European allies are pressing for their voices to be heard, potentially influencing Zelensky to seek amendments. However, time is of the essence, as US officials, operating under President Donald Trump’s directive, aim to finalize the deal within weeks, not months. Trump, eager to end the conflict swiftly, appears to have abandoned hopes of direct negotiations between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing instead on securing a bilateral agreement.