Page 39 - bne IntelliNews magazine February 2025

bne February 2025 Southeast Europe I 39
operation," Patrushev said, using Russia's preferred term for the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's influential adviser claimed that Ukraine will also cease to exist as a state as
early as 2025 and said that it will not
be among the priorities of the new US president, Donald Trump.
The Russian official ruled out a role for the European Union in the negotiations on the settlement of the war in Ukraine, arguing that officials in Brussels have
lost support from several EU member states (including Romania).
He placed Romania among the group of EU countries also including Austria, Slovakia and Hungary that supposedly seek better ties with Moscow in contrast with the policy conducted by Brussels.
"The EU leadership, for example, has long lost the right to speak on behalf of many of its members, such as Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Romania and several other European countries interested
in stability in Europe and adopting a balanced position towards Russia," Putin's representative argued.
By listing Romania along with the other three countries, Patrushev implied
he expects an imminent win for ultranationalist presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, known for his anti-EU and anti-Nato rhetoric, for whom Moscow has expressed its appreciation. After Romania cancelled last year’s presidential election, the vote will be held on May 4, and polls indicate strong backing for Georgescu.
Turkey's Erdogan threatens to "cut off heads" of terrorist groups in Syria
bnm Gulf bureau
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened military action against militant groups in Syria, particularly Kurds, unless they lay down their arms and disband, Turkish media reported on January 15.
The Turkish leader's fiery language
is not new and is part of a push by authorities in Ankara and Idlib, which Turkey supports, to remove the groups from the border region.
Ankara has repeatedly hit Kurdish groups, both before and after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, and backs, and is backed by, the interim administration in Damascus. Several Kurdish groups said they would integrate with the
new administration following Assad’s departure, but many have yet to do so.
"If the SDF does not lay down their arms, they will not escape their impending fate," Erdogan told his ruling AK Party's parliamentary group, referring to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Ankara considers an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"We have the strength and capability to resolve this issue. All external forces
must remove their hands from the region, or we will, together with our Syrian brothers, cut off the heads of ISIS and PKK-SDF," he said in remarks broadcast on TRT Haber.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has previously warned of possible military operations against Kurdish armed groups in Syria if they fail to meet Ankara's demands.
The threats come amid significant changes in Syria's political landscape following opposition forces' capture of
major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Daraa and Homs, in late November.
Mohammed al-Bashir, who led the opposition in Idlib province from January 2024, has declared himself head of Syria's transitional government until March 1, 2025.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, former leader
of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has emerged as Syria's de facto leader, meeting with foreign officials, including European leaders and UN officials.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a recent press conference in Ankara. / Turkish presidency
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