On August 1, Turkiye announced that a swap of 26 prisoners between Russia and several Western countries had been coordinated in Ankara, in the largest prisoner swap since the height of the Cold War.

Western capitals remained silent through Turkiye’s presidential campaign, hoping Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule would come to a close, but now the West is caught between fear and hope.

The US and Europe would be better off without Erdogan’s disruptive influence in world affairs, especially as their confrontation with Vladimir Putin intensifies.

Russian authorities declared the murder of the daughter of the Russian philosopher and politician Alexander Dugin, who is close to President Vladimir Putin, a "premeditated and planned crime."

Over the weekend, the Jerusalem Day "March of Flags" reinforced its reputation for hatred, intolerance and violence against Palestinians.