Morning Briefing: May 14, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday with, including US President Donald Trump vowing to remove sanctions on Syria, Kremlin stating Russian delegation would be in Istanbul Thursday for talks with Ukraine, Israel killing 51 more Palestinians in Gaza, and the US and Saudi Arabia signing a $142B defense sales agreement.

TOP STORIES​​​​​​​

• Trump says he will order removal of all US sanctions on Syria ahead of meeting with Syria's al-Sharaa

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will order the removal of "brutal and crippling" US sanctions on Syria after consultations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other regional leaders.

"After discussing the situation in Syria with the crown prince, your crown prince, and also with President Erdogan of Türkiye, who called me the other day and asked for a very similar thing, among others, and friends of mine, people that I have a lot of respect for in the Middle East, I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump said in Riyadh as he addressed an investment forum.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Tuesday evening, one day ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Syrian presidency said in a statement.

• Kremlin says Russian delegation will be in Istanbul Thursday for talks with Ukraine

The Kremlin on Tuesday said that a Russian delegation will be in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul on Thursday where they expect to meet a Ukrainian delegation to take part in direct peace talks.

“We only evaluate the statements of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, who proposed holding negotiations between delegations on Thursday in Istanbul. Our delegation will be there and will wait for the Ukrainian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview, an excerpt of which was shared on Telegram.

Peskov added that who precisely will be representing Moscow at the talks will be disclosed when Putin instructs that this information be made public.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he is ready to fly to Istanbul to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin if necessary.

• Israel kills 51 Palestinians in Gaza

Israeli forces have killed 51 Palestinians in recent attacks on the Gaza Strip, including women and children, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said Wednesday.

WAFA reported that Israeli troops targeted homes in the south and north of Gaza throughout the night.

Nearly 52,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in an Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

• US, Saudi Arabia sign $142B defense sales agreement: White House

"The United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest defense sales agreement in history—nearly $142 billion, providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defense firms," the White House said in a statement.

The massive deal coincides with President Donald Trump's arrival in Riyadh, marking the beginning of his four-day Gulf tour.

According to the announcement, the intended sales fall into five categories: air force advancement and space capabilities; air and missile defense; maritime and coastal security; border security and land forces modernization; and information and communication systems upgrades.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump will attend the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul, but only if Russian President Vladimir Putin confirms his participation, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine said Tuesday.
• Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Tuesday evening, one day ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Syrian presidency said in a statement.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday described Türkiye as a ‘staunch and capable ally,’ following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
• French President Emmanuel Macron called the situation in the Gaza Strip a “humanitarian tragedy” and “unacceptable” on Tuesday.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that it is his "fervent hope" that Saudi Arabia joins a series of agreements signed by Muslim-majority countries to normalize relations with Israel.
• The UN said Israel's approval of a land registration process in the occupied West Bank risks further "legitimizing" its occupation over Palestinian territory.
• US President Donald Trump voiced optimism Tuesday that talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul could yield “pretty good results.”
• An Israeli delegation arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday to hold negotiations on a potential agreement for a hostage exchange and ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
• Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said the topics for negotiations on Thursday in Istanbul will include sustainable settlement and ground realities, as well as territorial concerns.
• The UN relief chief on Tuesday condemned Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, warning that the aid delivery mechanism is a "cynical sideshow" designed to distract from a campaign of displacement and suffering.
• At least 57 children in Gaza have died from the effects of malnutrition since the start of the aid blockade on March 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry.
• Russia has rejected a ruling by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that found Moscow guilty of the 2014 downing over Ukraine of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, with nearly 300 people dying.

SPORTS

• French president supports headscarf ban in sports competitions

France’s president expressed support Tuesday for a ban on headscarves in sports competitions.

“I stand by the Olympic Charter, which prohibits the wearing of all religious symbols in competitions,” Emmanuel Macron said during an interview with broadcaster TF1.

He distinguished between practicing sports in facilities and participating in competitions, saying it is up to each federation to decide whether to ban headscarves.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Saudi crown prince says deals worth over $300B signed with US during Trump's visit to kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced Tuesday that the kingdom has signed agreements with the US worth more than $300 billion during US President Donald Trump's current visit.

His remarks came during the 2025 Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, attended by Trump following bilateral talks and the signing of several agreements.

The crown prince also noted that trade volume between the two nations from 2013 to 2024 reached $500 billion.

• US annual consumer inflation unexpectedly ticks down to 2.3% in April

Consumer inflation in the US unexpectedly inched down to 2.3% in April, from 2.4% in the previous month, according to data released Tuesday.

The market expected the figure to remain unchanged at 2.4%, recorded in March.

On a monthly basis, CPI showed an increase of 0.2%, following a 0.1% decline in March. Monthly inflation also came below the market forecasts of 0.3% in April.