This daily news digest covers major developments across global politics, legal affairs, and military strategy.

White House Hosts Erdoğan Amid Sanctions and Oil Talks

US President Donald Trump hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House, with discussions centering on key issues that have strained relations between the two NATO allies.

F-35 and Sanctions: Trump indicated that US sanctions against Turkey could be lifted very soon, potentially allowing Ankara to purchase F-35 fighter jets.
Russian Oil: Trump also expressed confidence that Erdoğan would agree to stop buying Russian oil, stating that Turkey has many other sources for its oil needs.
Syria Stance: The two leaders found alignment on the Syrian issue, agreeing on a firm stance against the central Syrian government.

Trump Rejects West Bank Annexation

In a significant diplomatic move, President Trump publicly declared that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. This statement rejects the long-standing calls from some ultra-right Israeli politicians to claim sovereignty over the territory, which the international community largely considers illegal under international law. Trump stated that “enough is enough” and that the annexation “will not happen.”

Zelenskyy’s Escalating Pressure on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken a more aggressive stance, warning that if the war does not stop, Kremlin officials should be concerned about the location of their bomb shelters.

Request for US Missiles: Zelenskyy confirmed that he requested specific American missiles from Trump that are capable of striking targets that would force Russian President Putin into negotiations.
Deep Strikes: The Ukrainian President noted that the country already possesses drones capable of deep strikes into Russian territory, but emphasized that the new US systems would apply additional pressure. He confirmed that Trump supported the idea of striking Russian energy infrastructure and weapons manufacturing plants.

Former French President Sarkozy Convicted

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison—a sentence that is expected to be served as home confinement—and fined €100,000. He was found guilty of illegally receiving millions of euros from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign, an act that violated campaign financing bans. Sarkozy maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the conviction.

UEFA Considers Sanctioning Israel

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is expected to vote soon on whether to suspend or expel Israel from its tournaments. Reports indicate that a majority of the executive committee members are in favor of sanctions, citing the precedent set by the suspension of Russian teams and clubs after the war in Ukraine. However, the United States is reportedly making extensive efforts to block any attempt to exclude the Israeli national team, particularly from the 2026 World Cup.

Pentagon Summons Top Military Command

US Secretary of Defense Pitt Hekasi unexpectedly summoned hundreds of high-ranking generals and admirals from around the world to a Marine Corps base in Virginia. While the specific reason for the massive gathering was not disclosed, sources suggest it may be to discuss a new national defense strategy that places a greater priority on domestic security. The sudden and large-scale nature of the meeting was noted as unusual by some officials.