Ankara has breached its commitments to return Azov fighters to Ukraine

Today, Saturday, the Kremlin announced that the return of Azov fighters from Turkey to Ukraine is a violation of the terms of the existing agreements, stressing that the conditions for the return have been violated by the Turkish and Ukrainian sides.

breach of agreement

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “According to the terms of the agreements, the leaders of the Azov group were supposed to remain in Turkey until the end of the conflict,” accusing Ankara and Kiev of violating the agreement.

Zelensky brought back Denis Prokopenko, Svyatoslav Palamar, Serhiy Volynsky, Oleh Khomenko and Denis Schliha. They will finally be with their relatives,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

It is noteworthy that the Azov battalion was charged with defending the “Azovstal” steel complex in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, before it was taken over by Russian forces after fierce fighting that lasted for weeks.

“prisoner exchange”

The pro-Russian leader of Donetsk, Denis Pushlin, said in September of last year that after the exchange of prisoners with Kiev, 56 people were released, including 55 military personnel, as “five of them are from Donbass and the rest are from the Russian forces.” 215 people were extradited to Ukraine, including the commanders of the “Azov” regiment.

Zelensky escorts home the leaders of the Battle of Azovstal from Turkey

For his part, Erdogan announced the exchange, as Hurriyet newspaper wrote last January, quoting sources, that the Azov militants are still in Turkey, which Russia insisted on in accordance with the agreements.

Zelensky returns with 5 from Azov.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier today that he had returned to Ukraine with five commanders of the “Azov” regiment who were in Turkey.

This came after talks were held between Erdogan and Zelensky at the Fakhreddin Palace in Istanbul, on Friday evening, and lasted for about two and a half hours.

This is Zelensky’s first visit after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.

“peace negotiations”

Erdogan tried to use his good relations with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to mediate and end the war.

Turkey also organized two previous rounds of peace negotiations and is still pressing for more talks, amid Western governments’ concern over the growing economic ties between Turkey, a NATO member, and Russia and its resistance to the alliance’s expansion.