Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday and stated that the Russian president's name holds "special significance" for the Chechen people. According to Kadyrov, the region will "never forget" the support Putin extended to his father—Chechnya’s first president, Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov—"at a time when the future of the Chechen Republic depended on the decisions being made."
Turkey is considering opening its land border with Armenia within the next six months, which could be a significant step toward normalizing relations in the region.
According to Bloomberg, the opening of Europe's last closed Cold War-era border will pave the way for renewed trade and economic development in the South Caucasus. This move, along with a diplomatic breakthrough with Azerbaijan, could strengthen Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's hand ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. Sources also indicate that following Pashinyan's reelection, a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is possible, paving the way for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara continues to prioritize stability in the South Caucasus and is working closely with Azerbaijan to strengthen peace. He noted that progress in normalizing relations with Yerevan increases hopes for achieving long-term peace.