The release of the captured commanders of the Azov battalion is an absolute violation of the agreements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blasted
After the meeting between the presidents of Turkey and Ukraine – Recep Erdogan and Volodymyr Zelensky, a huge scandal is looming between Ankara and Moscow. This is clear from a cursory reading of the Russian media.
“Putin still hasn’t called Erdogan after his talks with Zelensky,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said succinctly. According to him, an option for a meeting next month is being discussed, but a date has not yet been specified. Russian President Vladimir Putin PHOTO: ARCHIVE
The first rift is related to the fact that after Zelensky’s visit, Ankara surprisingly released the leaders of the Azov detachment.
“Well, it seems that the Sultan has been ruined by the lucrative grain deal and has started to push his levers – noted in a scathing commentary “Russia Today”. – Let’s see where this leads, we’ll see.” According to the media, “bridges have been burned”.
Moscow’s insult is due to the fact that on September 22, 2022, Erdogan officially promised that the five commanders of Ukrainian formations captured in Mariupol in mid-May will remain in Turkey until the end of hostilities.
Among the five were the commanders of the “Azov” battalion Denis Prokopenko (Redis), Svyatoslav Palamar (Kolina), as well as the commander of the marines of the 36th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Volinsky (Volyn).
“Russia Today” notes that they were sent to Turkey with the personal guarantee of President Erdogan.
Now that agreement has been broken, and the pro-Kremlin media is outraged by Ankara’s perfidy. But at the same time, criticism of the Kremlin is creeping in as to why the Azovs in Russian prisons were then exchanged for the oligarch Medvedchuk, and not for captured Russian officers. And the question arises why Medvedchuk was so important for Moscow, and the fighters were not. Zelensky published his photo with the commanders of “Azov”, who were released these days by Ankara. PHOTO: TELEGRAM FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKY
In contrast to the subdued mood in Moscow, the Ukrainian president was jubilant: “We are returning home from Turkey and bringing our heroes home. Ukrainian soldiers Denis Prokopenko, Svyatoslav Palamar, Serhiy Volinsky, Oleg Khomenko, Denis Shlega. They will finally be with their relatives !” The video in which Zelensky welcomes the commanders of “Azov” released by Ankara. VIDEO: ZELENSKY’S TELEGRAM
This visibly angered Dmitry Peskov, who described it as an “absolute violation of existing agreements.” The terms of return were violated by both the Turkish side and Ukraine, he pointed out.
Against this background, another scandal is simmering between the Kremlin and Ankara, which could undermine their relations for a long time.
In the Russian capital, they are also enraged by the commitment of the Turkish president to support Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
Therefore, “Russia Today” comes out with a comment that this has alarmed the Turkish politicians.
“If Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, then Turkey, according to the alliance’s charter, will have to enter into a conflict with Russia,” said the deputy chairman of the Turkish party Vatan (Motherland) Utku Reyhan. According to him, membership will automatically activate Article Five of the statute, which means that Turkey will go to war with Russia.
“Is this what Erdogan wants,” Reyhan asked in a tweet quoted by Russian media.
It seems that the Kremlin does not dare to ask this question officially, and it is introduced into the information space in a roundabout way to test whether Ankara will come out with a comment on the hot topic.
2023-07-08 17:55:00
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