Every year in Istanbul, about 10,000 potentially dangerous buildings are demolished and rebuilt as part of a large-scale housing renovation program that authorities are accelerating due to the high risk of a major earthquake in the Marmara Sea region.
According to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News, citing official data and estimates from urban planning experts, Istanbul accounts for approximately half of all projects involving the demolition and reconstruction of unsafe buildings in Turkey. Nationwide, about 20,000 such structures are demolished each year.
A particularly large-scale program is underway in Istanbul itself, home to more than 15 million people. According to Turkish authorities’ estimates, about 1.5 million standalone residential and commercial buildings in the city are at risk, with approximately 600,000 requiring urgent reconstruction.
The pace of urban renewal has increased significantly. According to the Anadolu Agency as of July 25, 2026, since Turkey’s Urban Transformation Law was enacted in 2012, more than 1.274 million standalone properties in Istanbul have been included in the renovation program. Construction on 998,000 of these has already been completed, while more than 276,000 properties are currently being renovated across all 39 districts of the city.
One of the main tools for accelerating the renovation process has been the government program Yarısı Bizden—“Half Is on Us.” The government provides owners of apartments in buildings deemed unsafe with a grant of 875,000 Turkish lira, a preferential loan of 875,000 lira, and 125,000 lira in relocation assistance. The total support package for a single residential property can thus reach 1.875 million lira.
The program runs through December 31, 2026. In February, the authorities further relaxed the conditions: all owners of residential and commercial properties in Istanbul whose buildings are officially designated as high-risk by that date will be eligible for state support. Thus, the program applies, in particular, to properties that received this status in 2025–2026.
Against this backdrop, property owners are rushing to submit applications, and construction and demolition work is underway in virtually all districts of the metropolis. Old five- to eight-story buildings are gradually being replaced by new structures designed in accordance with modern seismic safety requirements. At the same time, representatives of the construction industry caution that accelerating demolition should not come at the expense of residents’ safety or environmental standards.
Seismic risk for Istanbul remains one of the key factors in urban policy.
According to the Istanbul Municipality’s official scenario for a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, it is estimated that approximately 48,000 buildings could sustain severe or very severe damage, while the number of buildings with moderate or higher levels of damage could reach 194,000.
Thus, the current construction boom in Istanbul is linked not only to the development of the real estate market but, above all, to the authorities’ attempt to accelerate the replacement of the most vulnerable housing stock before a possible major earthquake.
According to a recently published report by Deutsche Bank, the highest increase in rents for three-room apartments in European city centers between 2020 and 2025 was recorded in Southern and Eastern Europe, reaching 206%. These figures are from a study covering 67 cities worldwide, including 28 in Europe.
According to Eurostat, housing prices in the EU rose by 27.3% quarter-on-quarter (from Q1 2020 to Q1 2025), while rents rose by 12.5% between June 2020 and June 2025. However, growth exceeded the average in central city areas.
The most expensive and cheapest cities in 2025:
The highest rental growth (2020–2025):
Overall, the findings show that Southern and Eastern Europe have lost their relative affordability in terms of housing rentals, while the major financial and political centers of Western and Northern Europe remain the most expensive, but affordability in Eastern Europe is declining rapidly.
On May 16, 2025, the first direct talks in more than three years between delegations from Ukraine and Russia began in Istanbul, aimed at finding ways to end the ongoing conflict.
The meeting is being held at the Dolmabahçe Palace, mediated by Turkey and attended by high-ranking US officials.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. It also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Polak, and other high-ranking representatives of law enforcement and diplomatic agencies.
The Russian side is represented by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Director of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GUGS) Igor Kostyukov, and other officials.
Before the start of the bilateral talks, trilateral meetings were held: first between Turkey, the US, and Ukraine, and then between Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also participating in the talks.
Reactions and expectations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment at the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the talks, saying that the Russian delegation “has no authority to make decisions.” He stressed that Ukraine is committed to achieving a 30-day ceasefire, while Russia insists on broader negotiations, including issues of territorial concessions and renouncing NATO membership.
The United States and European countries support the initiative to establish a 30-day ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said that significant progress is only possible if he meets with President Putin in person.
International support
China has expressed support for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, calling on all sides to reach a fair and lasting peace agreement.
Turkey, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to play an active role in mediating between the parties to the conflict, providing a platform for talks and facilitating dialogue.
Despite low expectations, the start of negotiations in Istanbul is seen as an important step towards a possible peaceful settlement.
During a press conference on Saturday night, Putin proposed starting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, according to Reuters.
Putin ignored the proposal by Ukraine and European leaders, supported by the US, for a 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday, May 12.
Instead, he said that a ceasefire could be discussed during direct talks.
“He said that Russia is offering direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in an attempt to ‘eliminate the root causes of the conflict’ and ‘achieve the restoration of long-term, lasting peace,’” Reuters quoted the Kremlin leader as saying.
As noted by the agency, Putin resorted to accusations against the Ukrainian authorities that are traditional for his rhetoric. In particular, he complained about the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.
As reported, on Saturday, May 10, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the UK, and Ukraine, following a meeting in Kyiv, adopted a joint statement proposing that Russia cease fire completely and unconditionally from Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. In the event of Russia’s refusal to accept the proposed ceasefire, they agreed to impose tougher sanctions on its banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet. The joint statement also mentioned the 17th package of EU sanctions and continued work on the effective use of frozen Russian assets.
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Istanbul to meet with Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The airplane with the Ukrainian leader and his accompanying delegation on board landed at Ataturk Airport, Turkish media reported.
As part of the visit of the Ukrainian delegation, Zelensky will meet with President Erdogan. A joint statement of the two leaders is expected to be signed following the talks.
The Joint Coordinating Center in Istanbul (JCC) is in contact with the Russian authorities in connection with the announcement of withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and called on the parties to refrain from actions that jeopardize the implementation of agreements.
“We have seen reports from the Russian Federation about the suspension of their participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative after the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. We are in touch with the Russian authorities on this issue,” the SKC said in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine.
“It is imperative that all parties refrain from any action that could jeopardize the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian initiative with a clear positive impact on food access for millions of people around the world,” SKC stressed in a commentary. .
As reported, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the withdrawal of Moscow from the agreements on the export of grain from the ports of Ukraine. They claim that allegedly Ukraine, with the participation of British specialists, carried out an attack “against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in ensuring the security of the” grain corridor “.
