Politics by country

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The EU extends economic sanctions against Russia until July 31

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is heading for a showdown with main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras in Parliament ahead of a no-confidence vote in the government over the country's wiretap scandal Friday. 

The six-party Nation Alliance has challenged President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's eligibility to run for the presidency in the upcoming elections on the grounds that the Turkish constitution stipulates that a person can run for the highest seat of the Turkish state only twice.

The authoritarianism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as his stance with regard to Sweden and Finland's NATO application, is drawing the ire of an increasing number of international media. 

The latest publication to denounce him was the German magazine Stern, whose cover on Thursday had his photo under the title "The Arsonist."

With Greek-Israeli relations deepening in recent years, Athens wishes to continue on this course.

To this end Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will travel to Jerusalem on Monday for talks with his counterpart Eli Cohen, who took office three weeks ago.

Although not yet finalized, it is possible that Dendias will also be received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ruling New Democracy maintains a lead of 5.9 points over leftist opposition SYRIZA, according to a poll conducted by MRB and presented on Open TV Thursday.

The Biden administration is moving ahead with its intention to supply Turkey with 40 new F-16 fighter jets and upgrade 80 of the country's older ones.

ANKARA - Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made a pledge to him Ankara would note to Pristina that respect of its previous agreements with Belgrade was necessary.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a farewell visit from Palestinian Ambassador Mohammed Nabhan on Thursday, thanking him for an exceptional contribution he has made to the close relations between the two countries and peoples during his long tenure in Belgrade.

ANKARA - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday in Ankara Serbia-Turkey relations were at a historical high point and that the two countries aimed to increase the volume of their bilateral trade from the present cca 2.5 bln dollars to 5 bln dollars.